《伊索寓言》相傳為公元前六世紀，被釋放的古希臘奴隸伊索所著，蒐集所有古希臘民間故事，並加入印度、阿拉伯及基督教故事。下面是小編分享的幾篇伊索寓言，歡迎大家閱讀!
The Raven and the Swan烏鴉和天鵝
A RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same
beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan's splendid white
color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the
Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his
living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But
cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change
their color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.
烏鴉非常羨慕天鵝潔白的羽毛。他猜想天鵝一定是經常洗澡，羽毛才變得如此潔白無 瑕。於是，他毅然離開了他賴以生存的祭壇，來到江湖邊。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一 點都沒洗白，反而因缺少食物飢餓而死。
這故事是說，人的本性不會隨著生活方式的改變而改變。
The Goat and the Goatherd 山羊與牧羊人
A GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock.
He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no
attention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone,
and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master.
The Goat replied, "Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak
though I be silent."
Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.
很多山羊被牧羊人趕到羊圈裡。有一隻山羊不知在吃什麼好東西，單獨落在後面。牧羊 人拿起一塊石頭扔了過去，正巧打斷了山羊的'一隻角。牧羊人嚇得請求山羊不要告訴主人， 山羊說：“即使我不說，又怎能隱瞞下去呢?我的角已斷了，這是十分明顯的事實。”
這故事說明，明顯的罪狀是無法隱瞞的。
The Thirsty Pigeon口渴的鴿子
A PIGEON, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water
painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture,
she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed
against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken
her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by
one of the bystanders.
Zeal should not outrun discretion.
有隻鴿子口渴得很難受，看見畫板上畫著一個水瓶，以為是真的。他立刻呼呼地猛飛過 去，不料一頭碰撞在畫板上，折斷了翅膀，摔在地上，被人輕易地捉住了。
這是說，有些人想急於得到所需的東西，一時衝動，草率從事，就會身遭不幸。
The Tortoise and the Eagle烏龜與鷹
A TORTOISE, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the
sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly.
An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what
reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float
her in the air. "I will give you," she said, "all the riches of the Red
Sea ." "I will teach you to fly then," said the Eagle; and taking her
up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds suddenly he let
her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing her shell to pieces
. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of death: "I have deserved
my present fate; for what had I to do with wings and clouds, who
can with difficulty move about on the earth?'
If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined.
烏龜看見鷹在空中飛翔，便請求鷹教他飛行。鷹勸告他，說他不能飛行。可烏龜再三懇 求，鷹便抓住他，飛到高空，然後將他鬆開。烏龜落在岩石上，被摔得粉身碎骨。
這故事說明，那些好高鶩遠，不切實際的人必將失敗。
