What Does The Fable "The Man, The Horse, The Ox And The Dog"� Tell Us About The Human Character?

Three animals were travelling together through a large forest. Growing tired and hungry, they knocked on a cottage door and asked for help. The man who lived there made them welcome; he gave oats to the horse, hay to the ox and meat to the dog, and gave them all lodging for the night. The animals were so grateful that they decided to reward him by giving him their own typical qualities. Each took one portion of the man's life; the horse took youth, the ox middle age, and the dog old age. For each period, they gave him what they thought were good qualities.

And this, says the fable, is the result: young men are stubborn, impetuous and will heed no advice but their own. Middle-aged men are industrious, patient and slow. And old men are snappish, selfish, suspicious of strangers and dislike everyone who doesn't minister to their comfort.