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The Undecided Donkey: A Fable for Kids

By Jared Dees

Donkey Fable, Buridan's Donkey

Share this story with a kid who is struggling to make decisions.

The following story is inspired by the philosophical paradox known as “Buridan’s ass (donkey).” A donkey is equally hungry and thirsty and standing exactly in between both food and water. The donkey would usually go to the one that is closer first, but this time the donkey is right in the middle of both choices. Since it can’t choose one or the other, the donkey dies of hunger and thirst.

The story gets it’s name from French philosopher Jean Buridan, who wrote about moral determinism. He suggested that all choices have causes outside of ourselves. In other words, nothing is self-caused since it was inspired by other preceding events and experiences. The donkey parable critiques this view because the donkey dies from making no choice at all.

Aristotle first proposed the moral of the story in 350 BC:

…a man, being just as hungry as thirsty, and placed in between food and drink, must necessarily remain where he is and starve to death.

— Aristotle, On the Heavens 295b

I first came across the story when Derek Sivers shared it on the Tim Ferriss Show podcast. He offered the following lesson from the story: “Don’t be a donkey.”

Don’t Be a Donkey

TIM: “What advice would you give to your 30-year-old self?”

DEREK: “Don’t be a donkey.”

TIM: “And what does that mean?”

DEREK: “Well, I meet a lot of 30-year-olds who are trying to pursue many different directions at once, but not making progress in any,…

— Tim Ferriss (@tferriss) August 28, 2023

“A donkey can’t think of the future. If he could, he’d clearly realize that he could first drink the water, then go eat the hay.

Don’t be a donkey. You can do everything you want to do. You just need foresight and patience.”

Source: https://sive.rs/donkey

I’m less interested in inspring a philosophical discussion with kids but instead getting them to realize more practical advice like the conclusion Derek Sivers suggests.

So, here’s the story and a few questions to discuss with kids.

The Undecided Donkey

A donkey approached the barn with his head held low after a long day’s work. He was very hungry and thirsty.

The donkey looked up and saw that he stood exactly halfway between a pile of hay and a bucket of water.

The donkey didn’t move. He couldn’t move. He kept looking back and forth between the hay and the water.

Which one should he get first: the food or the water?

He stood there uncertain of what to do so long that he eventually died of hunger and thirst.

Don’t be the donkey.

The Undecided Donkey Questions

  1. What should the donkey have done instead of standing there?
  2. What decisions are you struggling with the most today and why?
  3. What helps you make tough decisions?
  4. Make a list of all the goals you have in life right now. Which one should you pursue first and why?

March 14, 2024 Filed Under: Children's Stories

About Jared Dees

Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children.

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Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children. See all of Jared's Books →

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