Slow and Steady Wins the Race - Lesson Story Free Download

Slow and Steady Wins the Race is an oft-quoted proverb. It means that for success in life a slow but steady and Constant effort is required. Working in an even and regular way without interruptions is the key to success. There is a well-known fable to illustrate the truth of this proverb. Once upon a time, a hare and a tortoise lived in a certain jungle in a lush green meadow. They were chum/fast friends and whiled away the days together playing and enjoying. But there was one problem. The hare was active, agile and alert. He was vain of his supple arms and spry legs. He often boasted of his quick movements, Brisk Walk and fast speed. On the contrary, the tortoise was slow, slack and sluggish. The hare often ridiculed him for his short feet, lumbering body and slow speed. He jeered at his crude Crawling and coarse creeping. The merciless mockery and callous comments on behalf of the hare exerted catastrophic effects on the nerves of the tortoise. The tortoise was tired of these daily disgraces but he used to defend himself by saying,

"Slow and Steady work is better than fast and fitful one."

One day the dispute took a serious turn and the tortoise lost his temper. Being Weary of daily disgraces, the tortoise challenged the hare to run a race to settle the dispute once and for all,

"I bet I'll beat you in a race."

said the tortoise. The challenge left the hare open-mouthed. He could not believe that such a torpid turtle had challenged him thus. However the hare accepted the challenge with a smug smile. They fixed clump of olive trees at the foot of a yonder mountain as the winning post. Many other animals also gathered there to witness the competition. The owl was to act as a referee. One, two, three: the race commenced. The hare bounced away with a flying speed like a gale and disappeared in the haze of distance in the twinkling of an eye. On the other hand, the tortoise kept on Creeping slowly. The hare was very proud of his bionic leaps and agility. After he had covered a half of the distance he caught sight of a cool shady tree. He looked back and found no trace of the tortoise.

"The tortoise will be lagging far behind. What a cool and shady place it is! Why should I not enjoy siesta for a while? The foolish tortoise will take very long to reach here. Even if he comes, I will take a few jumps and again leave him behind."

The flashed through his mind. With this satisfaction, he lay down under the shady tree on the smooth spongy grass. The tender strokes of fresh fondling breeze rustling through the overhanging twigs began to rock his tired body in the velvety Cradle of the meadow and created an impact of magical music, it looked as if Orpheus (The God of Music) were playing the lyre. The soft strokes of light wind rocked his tired body. Soon he went off sleep in the arms of Morpheus (The God of Sleep). On the other hand the tortoise could not run fast but having a strong determination to achieve his destined end, went on crawling slowly but steadfastly.

He reached the palm where the hare was snoring and was lost in the Sweet dreams of winning the competition and establishing the superiority. continued his slow and steady pace because his honour was at stake. He quietly passed the sleeping hare and went his way with new fervor. Ultimately, his perseverance brought him the sweet fruit of victory. When the hare woke up from his deep slumber, the sun was about to wear the veil of the horizon. He rubbed his eyes and looked back. Again there was no sign of the tortoise. Being afraid of losing the competition and at the same time hoping of inflicting a crushing defeat on the tortoise, he again ran as fast as he could but it was too late then. When he reached the winning post, he was shocked, surprised and enormously ashamed to find his rival already sitting at the winning post with all other animals waiting for his arrival. He had lost the competition. His pride had met a fall whereas the slow and steady tortoise had won the race. His vain hosts brought him nothing but repentance and remorsefulness. All the other animals ridiculed and taunted him. The tortoise made the following remarks:

"You did not beat me. What's the use of speed to you? I 've won the race."

After this humiliation, the hare decided never to mock anyone in future. He always remind himself,

"Don't brag about your lightning pace for slow and steady on the race."

The story teaches us a lesson that if someone works slowly but regularly, he has every chance of winning his goal. On the contrary, if a person works by tits and starts, his success is not sure. It also teaches us that we should not make fun of others.

Possible Morals:

1. Pride hath a fall.
2. Never make fun of others.
3. Nothing succeeds like success.
4. Perseverance is the key to success.
5. Success waits for those who sleep after the completion of their work.