Fable 774: The SILKWORM and the SPIDER When time spins swiftly and the temptation to rush arises, heed The Fableist's warning: quick and shoddy work begets little praise, while time spent in pursuit of quality and craftsmanship endures and delights. -- A spider was working slowly and diligently on her web, while a silkworm was speeding through her shroud. The silkworm was arrogant about her quantity of work, and bragged to the spider. But the spider continued her methodical approach; she knew she was building something that would last.

FABLE 556: THE WASP AND THE BUTTERFLY Let this wine inspire a feeling of gratitude — do not dwell too long on the past. For like the butterfly and the wasp, it matters not what we were before, but what we have become. -- In ancient times, it was believed that butterflies came from the spirit and soul of a person, but wasps emerged from dead mules. In their second lives, the butterfly feels useless compared to the wasp, and is jealous of its abilities. But the wasp says, “It matters not what we were, it matters what we are now.”

FABLE 087: The GOOSE with the GOLDEN EGGS May your heart bubble over with gratitude for this sweet indulgence — savor every sip as you taste gold upon your tongue. For patience, not greed, will heed prosperity and joy. -- A merchant owned a beautiful goose that laid golden eggs. He sold one at the market each day and began to get rich. One day, his greed got the most of him, and he cut the goose open to retrieve all the eggs at once. But he found no eggs, and his precious goose was dead.

373 The ANT or the CICADA Now accept the gift of The Fableist, which has been toiled and moiled over in an attempt to give both weary ants and shiftless cicadas peace of mind, and a belly full of warmth. -- One autumn day, the bustling ants were preparing their stores for the winter. They stopped to ask a cicada why he was playing music instead of planning for the season. “Life is to be enjoyed!” the cicada said. But when winter dawned, the ants were warm and well-fed. Seeing the starving cicada, they took pity on him and welcomed him to a feast.

FABLE 206: The SCORPION and the FROG Just as the scorpion told the frog it would not sting, we had vowed to avoid Paso's precious Zin. In the end though, The Fableist resides in Paso Robles and Paso Robles winemakers craft Zinfandel. -- A frog and a scorpion are on a riverbank, and the scorpion asks the frog for a ride across. The frog says, “How do I know you won’t sting me?” And the scorpion replies, “Of course I won’t, or we would both drown.” But as they make their way into the water, the scorpion stings the frog, dooming them both. When the frog asks why, the scorpion says, “It’s in my nature.”

FABLE 426: THE FOX AND THE STORK Resist the Fox’s temptation to think too highly of oneself; instead, graciously put aside differences and share the bounty of these vines with open arms. -- A tricky fox invited a stork over for dinner, and served him soup in a shallow bowl, knowing the stork’s beak would prevent him from partaking. Later, the stork repaid the favor — he served the fox a meal in a tall, narrow jar. The fox could only lick the outside of the glass and smell the delicious flavors. When the fox became frustrated, the stork reminded him not to play tricks on his neighbor unless he was prepared to face the same.