The Goods and the Ills by Esopo
Esopo's "The Goods and the Ills" is a fable that explores the consequences of greed and the importance of moderation. The story follows a fox who, after acquiring great wealth, becomes increasingly obsessed with accumulating more goods. However, his obsession leads to him losing everything he has worked for, as well as his health and happiness. In the end, the fox realizes that true happiness comes from living simply and being content with what one has, rather than constantly striving for more. The moral of the story is that moderation is key to a happy and fulfilling life.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 234 words
First lines
There was a time in the youth of the world when Goods and Ills entered equally into the concerns of men, so that the Goods did not prevail to make them altogether blessed, nor the Ills to make them wholly miserable. But owing to the foolishness of mankind the Ills multiplied greatly in number and increased in strength, until it seemed as though they would deprive the Goods of all share in human affairs, and banish them from the earth. The latter, therefore, betook themselves to heaven and complained to Jupiter of the treatment they had received, at the same time praying him to grant them protection from the Ills, and to advise them concerning the manner of their intercourse with men. Jupiter granted their request for protection, and decreed that for the future they should not go among men openly in a body, and so be liable to attack from the hostile Ills, but singly and unobserved, and at infrequent and unexpected intervals.
What this Textopian page supports
The Goods and the Ills is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1668 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Esopo
- Date: 1668 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Moral
- Length: 234 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Goods and the Ills by Esopo
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Two Bags by Esopo
- The Lamp by Esopo
- Demades And His Fable by Esopo
- The Traveller And Fortune by Esopo
- The Old Hound by Esopo
- The Trees And The Axe by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — The author, Esopo, is known for creating fables that often include animals and fictional elements to deliver moral lessons.
- Children's Literature — Esopo's works, including 'The Goods and the Ills', are often used to teach children about moral values through short, imaginative stories.
- Fantasy — The storytelling in 'The Goods and the Ills' involves anthropomorphized elements that fall into the fantasy genre
- Moral — Esopo's works, including 'The Goods and the Ills', are designed to teach moral lessons, making them fit into the moral genre.
Tags
morality · fable · allegory · human nature · wisdom · consequences · choices · good vs evil · life lessons · character development · social commentary · philosophy