History YMMV / AesopsFables

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''The Fox and the Crow'' is memetic in Russia, to the point of spawning two cartoons, [[https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D0%BC%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%83_%D1%81%D1%8B%D1%80%D0%BA%D1%83_%C2%AB%D0%94%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B1%D0%B0%C2%BB a monument]], countless jokes...

* ValuesResonance: That said, there's a reason these tales have been handed down as morality lessons over thousands of years; most of them still have a good point.

* HilariousInHindsight: In 2016, someone actually [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5QpfAUUxGc held a race]] between a tortoise and, um, a rabbit (well, close enough...) The outcome was pretty much exactly as Aesop predicted, with the rabbit losing interest halfway through and the tortoise just plodding along steadily to the end.

** The Man and the Satyr: [[SpaceWhaleAesop Don't befriend satyrs; they overreact.]]

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: During the fable "The Wolf and the Lamb", a wolf lures a lamb in by distracting it with false accusations, until the wolf eats the lamb. The original moral was that lies destroy the innocent or that a tyrant will use any excuse, truth be damned, but to modern readers [[{{Troll}} getting lured in and eaten by false accusations rather than ignoring them may sound familiar]].

*** Be careful what you wish for

** Different versions of "The Fox and the Lion" have applied different morals to it, from "Acquaintance overcomes fear," to "Familiarity with evil can blind us to its dangers."

** The Wolf and The Crane has either character having AdaptationalHeroism and AdaptationalVillainy dependent on the [[DependingOnTheWriter storyteller]]. The primary lesson of all versions should be "Your life is more important than any reward, think twice before you do something you'll regret". Alternatively, "It's better to be ashamed of your mistakes than to be killed by them".

** The Wolf and The Crane has either character having AdaptationalHeroism and AdaptationalVillainy dependent on the [[DependingOnTheWriter storyteller.]]
*** You should help people with genuine compassion and charity, not for the expectancy of a reward.
*** Survival is worth more than a reward when you consider the dangers of the situation.

*** The original moral was SlowAndSteadyWinsTheRace, but since the hare was well ahead [[WhatAnIdiot until he decided to stop and take a nap in the middle of it]], many readers take the moral as "don't get cocky when you're competing and give it your full effort until the event is over".

* WhatAnIdiot: ''The Tortoise and the Hare'': The Tortoise is bullied by a Hare because the latter is a fast runner while the former, well, isn't. They eventually agree to have a race to settle things once and for all. The Hare, being a short-distance sprinter, naturally gets a quick lead, but he eventually becomes tired.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' The Hare would finish the race ''before'' taking a nap. Even if he had to slow down for breath, the Hare would still beat the Tortoise by a long shot if he just kept going.\\
'''Instead:''' The Hare takes a nap ''in the middle of the race'', arrogantly believing that the Tortoise is so slow that [[TemptingFate there's no way he could possibly lose to him]].\\
'''As A Result:''' By the time the Hare wakes up, the Tortoise is just short of crossing the finish line. The Hare sprints towards the finish line, but it's too late; [[EpicFail the Hare loses to the Tortoise]].

** The Man and the Satyr: [[SpaceWhaleAesop Don't befriend satyrs -- they overreact.]]

** Zeus and The Bee;

* WhatAnIdiot: ''The Tortoise and the Hare'': The Tortoise is bullied by a Hare because the latter is a fast runner while the former is, well, not. They eventually agree to have a race to settle things once and for all. The Hare, being a short-distance sprinter, naturally gets a quick lead, but he eventually becomes tired.\\

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: During the fable "The Wolf and the Lamb", a wolf lures a lamb in by distracting it with false accusations, until the wolf eats the lamb. The original moral was that lies to destroy the innocent or that a tyrant will use any excuse, truth be hung, but to modern readers [[{{Troll}} getting lured in and eaten by false accusations rather than ignoring them may sound familiar]].
** The Man and the Satyr: [[SpaceWhaleAesop Don't befriend satyrs, they overreact.]]

* ValuesResonance: That said, there's a reason these tales have handed down as morality lessons over thousands of years, most of them still have a good point.

'''You'd Expect:''' For the Hare to finish the race before taking a nap. Even if he had to slow down for breath, the Hare would still beat the Tortoise by a long shot if he just kept going.\\
'''Instead:''' The Hare takes a nap in the middle of the race, arrogantly believing that the Tortoise is so slow that [[TemptingFate there's no way he could possibly lose to him]].\\
'''As a Result:''' By the time the Hare wakes up, the Tortoise is just short of crossing the finish line. The Hare sprints towards the finish line, but it's too late; [[EpicFail the Hare loses to the Tortoise]].