Alternate Aesop Interpretation: The Aesop is about being slow and steady, but others have interpreted it as "don't let overconfidence go to your head". The rabbit would have easily won if not for the fact that he was completely assured he'd still win the race even if he stopped to take a nap.
Hilarious in Hindsight: In 2016, someone actually 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 (or it may have been scared by the crowd) and the tortoise just plodding along steadily to the end.
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 (or it may have been scared by the crowd) and the tortoise just plodding along steadily to the end.