Once upon a time, in a dense forest, there lived two young foxes with their wise mother. The mother fox always taught her cubs about the importance of choosing the right companions and staying away from trouble.
One day, while their mother was out hunting, a sly hunter entered the forest. He had heard about the clever foxes and wanted to catch them. The hunter set a trap and managed to capture one of the foxes, while the other narrowly escaped.
The captured fox was taken to the hunter’s village, where it was kept in a cage and surrounded by people who often spoke harshly and rudely. Over time, the fox began to mimic their unpleasant behavior, becoming sharp-tongued and mean-spirited.
Meanwhile, the other fox, after escaping, wandered through the forest in search of its mother. Exhausted and hungry, it eventually stumbled upon a peaceful monastery. The kind monks living there welcomed the fox, offering it food and a safe place to stay. Surrounded by the monks’ gentle words and calm demeanor, the fox grew to be polite and thoughtful, echoing the kindness it was shown.
One day, a traveler who had heard of the talking foxes visited the hunter’s village. He was shocked to find the first fox, but was disappointed by its rude and aggressive nature. Saddened, the traveler continued his journey and soon arrived at the monastery, where he met the second fox. To his surprise and delight, this fox spoke with great respect and kindness, a stark contrast to the one he encountered before.
The traveler, amazed by the difference between the two foxes, realized that the company they kept had shaped their behavior.
Moral of the Story:
The company we keep greatly influences our behavior. Surrounding ourselves with good-hearted people helps us become better individuals, while bad influences can lead us astray.