For a show that runs on Aesops, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic has quite a few of these.
- The Cutie Mark Crusaders play with this trope as a Running Gag. The lesson "You can't make your cutie mark appear; you just have to wait for it" comes up in several episodes, but they refuse to learn it or wind up Comically Missing the Point. Done most egregiously in "The Cutie Pox", where Apple Bloom states the Aesop herself, only to declare that she's waited long enough roughly ten seconds later. Ironically, it actually sticks a lot better that time, and by season 3, the "we're going to get our cutie marks in X" plots largely fade into the background.
- The Mane Six zig-zag this trope. They often learn lessons related to their personalities, and then sometimes fall back into old habits. However, over the course of the series they have also shown signs of positive Character Development. Twilight has come to appreciate friendship more and has demonstrated more patience, calmness, and rational thought (traits which prove useful when she becomes a princess).note Rainbow Dash Took a Level in Kindness in Season 2 that has in general persisted, and Fluttershy has demonstrated ever-increasing traits of assertiveness and tough love, as well as more self-confidence in her flight capabilities. Applejack also dialed back on the pride permanently; in "The Super-Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000", she has no problem accepting her friends' help, and at the end of the episode, she even explicitly points out that she knew that already. In "Apple Family Reunion", she actually plans for and goes to them for help.
- Some lessons that stay learned are by the citizens of Ponyville at large, as they have learned to accept Zecora and Princess Luna. Zecora makes a crack about the ponies of Ponyville seeming to forget their lesson and hide from her again in "The Cutie Pox", but they're actually hiding from Apple Bloom.
- At least once a season, there'll be an episode to teach Spike his place in the group. Considering his status as a Butt-Monkey, this might be needed.
- In several episodes, the characters forget that Princess Celestia is a kind, nurturing mother figure to her subjects and think she is a stiff who would punish someone for making a simple mistake. Twilight Sparkle goes through this the most.
- In the Season 1 episode "Griffon the Brush Off," Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie take caution not to prank Fluttershy due to her sensitive nature, and it's a plot point that Gilda doesn't have that kind of restraint and gets Fluttershy upset. In the Season 6 episode "28 Pranks Later," Rainbow Dash not only has to relearn "You don't just prank anyone you see" (and even pranks Spike in an incredibly similar way), but she loses that inhibition in the meantime and pranks Fluttershy during the Cold Open.
- After her Heel–Face Turn, Starlight Glimmer repeatedly tries to use magic to solve mundane problems instead of talking through them, which usually makes things worse.
- This was lampshaded in "Fame and Misfortune" where a group of Loony Fans accuse Fluttershy of having to re-learn confidence over and over. Fluttershy responds that someone's personality doesn't just completely change because of one event; they may need to be reminded a few times.
- "The Washouts" delivers a slight variation of this trope, with the Aesop being forgotten by the character who taught it rather than the one who learned it. Back in "Flight to the Finish", Rainbow Dash helped Scootaloo learn that even if she can't fly, she's still special in other ways. In this episode, Scootaloo is offered a spot on the titular stunt team (which would make great use of said "other ways", specifically her signature scooter skills), to which Rainbow Dash objects. While Rainbow does express legitimate safety concerns, she makes it obvious that she is motivated at least as much by not wanting Scootaloo to look up to anyone other than herself, and heavily implies that she was expecting Scootaloo to follow her into the Wonderbolts, despite there being essentially no realistic hope of that actually happening.
- Rainbow Dash: I just want to make sure you don't get hurt. That way, you can follow in my hoofsteps. Every pony's dream, right!Scootaloo: More like, "Follow your wingflaps".Rainbow Dash: Same difference.
