Have you ever heard the expression, “the lion’s share,” as in “the lion’s share of the work” or “the lion’s share of the money”? It is an idiomatic phrase that originates in one of Aesop’s fables.
Read The Lion’s Share Fable here.
Although we might hear the phrase often to describe a large responsibility, the actual parable has a different lesson. Let’s look at a short summary and some reflection questions.
The Lion’s Share Fable Summary
The Lion, Fox, Jackal, and Wolf agree to go hunting together and share whatever they find. The wolf finds a stag and calls his companions to share in the food. They arrive and the Lion divides the stag into four equal parts, but claims three parts for himself and dares them to claim the fourth share for themselves. Why? Because he is the King, the strongest, and the bravest. The other animals went away hungry.
Aesop’s lesson: “Might makes right.”
In Phaedrus’s Latin version of the fable he warns, “Partnership with the mighty is never trustworthy.”
The Lion’s Share Fable Reflection Questions
- Why did the animals join together as partners?
- Why did the Lion claim the majority of the food for himself?
- If you were the Fox, Jackal, or Wolf, how would you respond to the Lion?
- What are some real-world examples of people taking the lion’s share of something? (Hint: money, food, possessions, etc.)
- How can you stand up to the real-world lions who take more than their fair share?
