1. Hercules and the Wagoner大力神和车夫
A CARTER was driving a wagon along a country lane, when the wheels sank down deep into a rut. The rustic driver, stupefied and aghast, stood looking at the wagon, and did nothing but utter loud cries to Hercules to come and help him. Hercules, it is said, appeared and thus addressed him: "Put your shoulders to the wheels, my man. Goad on your bullocks, and never more pray to me for help, until you have done your best to help yourself, or depend upon it you will henceforth pray in vain."
Self-help is the best help. 一名车夫赶着货车沿着乡间小路行进。途中车轮陷入了很深的车辙中，再也无法前进。 这时，愚蠢的车夫吓得茫然失措，一筹莫展，痴呆呆地站在那里，凝视着货车，不断地高声 喊叫，求大力神来助他一把。大力神来到后，对他说：“朋友，用你的肩膀扛起车轮，再抽 打拉车的马。你自己不自力更生，尽力解决，仅靠祈求我，怎么行呢？”
这是说自力更生，自助自立是克服困难的最好办法。
2. The Ants and the Grasshopper蚂蚁与蚱蜢
THE ANTS were spending a fine winter's day drying grain collected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him, "Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?' He replied, "I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in singing." They then said in derision: "If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter."
冬季，蚂蚁正忙着把潮湿的谷子晒干。饥饿的蚱蜢跑来，向他们乞讨食物。蚂蚁问他： “你为什么在夏天不去收集食物呢？” 蚱蜢回答说：“那时没有时间，我忙于唱美妙动听的 歌。”蚂蚁嘲笑说：“你夏季如要唱歌，那么冬季就去跳舞吧。”这故事说明，要不失时机 地工作、劳动，才能丰衣足食；如果一味玩乐，只能挨饿。
3.The Hare and the Tortoise乌龟与兔
A HARE one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race." The Hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her fatigue. Slow but steady wins the race.
乌龟与兔为他们俩谁跑得快而争论不休。于是，他们定好了比赛的时间和地点。比赛一开始，兔觉得自己是天生的飞毛腿，跑得快，对比赛掉以轻心，躺在路旁睡着了。乌龟深知自己走得慢，毫不气馁，不停地朝前奔跑。结果，乌龟超过了睡熟了的兔子，夺得了胜利的 奖品。
这故事说明，奋发图强的弱者也能战胜骄傲自满的强者。
