Slow and steady wins the race

A hare stood at the edge of a pool and admired its reflection in the water, saying, "I am fit and trim. I have lovely eyes and strong limbs. I can run faster than most animals," Then it saw a tortoise clumsily moving up the bank of the pool. The tortoise was struggling to get firm hold over the slippery slope. The hare laughed at the tortoise and said, "It is a hard climb for you. For me, it is but a quick bounce." The tortoise felt hurt. After reaching the ground, it turned to the hare and said, "Don't be so proud. I challenge you to a race. A race from one end of the forest to the other." "You think you will win? No way," the hare snapped. "Let us see," the tortoise replied. The two decided to hold the race next day, an hour after dawn. The news of the proposed race spread by word of mouth. Many animals and birds came to witness the race. They told each other, "Poor tortoise. It will lose, for sure." The race began. The hare took off at top speed. The tortoise managed a fast crawl. The hare came close to the winning post. The post was hardly 100 metres away. The hare looked back. The tortoise was nowhere in sight. Then the hare noticed a Peepul tree. Its shade was cool. "Let me rest for some time. I know the tortoise will never make it," the hare rolled up into a fluffy ball, closed its eyes and slept off.
It woke up on hearing thunderous cheers. Sleepily, it looked all around. Then it noticed the tortoise, holding its neck out and accepting the cheers of the spectators. The tortoise had moved slowly but steadily, and reached the goal first. It had won the race.


Meaning: No body should take success for granted.

Alternatives: One should not rest until one has reached one's goal. Ambition knows no rest, success demands per- severance.