The shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagle's own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction.
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The little reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over.
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A farmer who had a quarrelsome family called his sons and told them to lay a bunch of sticks before him. Then, after laying the sticks parallel to one another and binding them, he challenged his sons, one after one, to pick up the bundle and break it. They all tried, but in vain. Then, untying the bundle, he gave them the sticks to break one by one. This they did with the greatest ease. Then said the father, Thus, my sons, as long as you remain united, you are a match for anything, but differ and separate, and you are undone.
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Slow and steady wins the race.
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United we stand, divided we fall.
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In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. Hares have no time to read. They are too busy winning the game.
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Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in.
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He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.
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Men often applaud an imitation, and hiss the real thing.
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Any excuse will serve a tyrant.
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Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.
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Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction.
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The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.
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Be content with your lot one cannot be first in everything.
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Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.
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It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.
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A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him.
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A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.
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You may share the labours of the great, but you may not share the spoil.
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There once was a Bald Man who sat down after work on a hot summer's day. A Fly came up and kept buzzing about his bald pate, and stinging him from time to time. The Man aimed a blow at his little enemy, but - whack - his palm come on his own head instead; again the Fly tormented him, but this time the Man was wiser and said: YOU WILL ONLY INJURE YOURSELF IF YOU TAKE NOTICE OF DISPICABLE ENEMIES.
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Our insignificance is often the cause of our safety.
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Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.
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Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in.
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Please all, and you will please none.
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Thinking to get at once all the gold the goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find - nothing.
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The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.
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It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.
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The gods help them that help themselves.
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Example is the best precept.
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No Act of Kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
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