Aesop and the Runaway Slave
Once upon a time, wise Aesop was walking all alone at the edge of an old forest where cool waters flowed gently. The golden lights of the sunset filtered softly down to the ground through the leaves of the old plane trees. Suddenly a rustling rose from the thick bushes beside the road, and eyes full of fear appeared. An exhausted slave, fleeing the heavy cruelty of his master, rolled breathless to the feet of Aesop. The wise man paused, looking with merciful eyes at this helpless man covered in dust and earth. The runaway man, trying to steady his trembling voice, said that he was fleeing to the mountains to gain his freedom. When Aesop saw the man's bleeding feet and the deep fear in his heart, he sighed.
“Look at me, my friend,” said the wise man in a soft tone of voice. “While running from a bad master, are you not afraid of falling into a darker well?” The runaway man raised his head in surprise and asked with curiosity what Aesop meant. Smiling, Aesop began to tell him the story of an old donkey that grew tired of carrying its load and ran away from its owner. “After that donkey ran away, it became prey to fierce wolves in the forest and longed for its old days.” “Every step taken without thinking sometimes leads a person not to freedom but to a greater disaster.” As the runaway slave listened to these deep words, he felt the dark clouds in his mind slowly scatter.
Wise Aesop explained to the slave, bit by bit, that he had to act with reason and not with anger. He stressed that running from hardship would bring no solution, and that waiting for the right time with patience and logic was better. The slave finally understood that acting only with his feelings would throw him into a greater danger. Taking a deep breath, he thanked Aesop and chose a new road on which he would walk with firmer steps. Aesop went on his way as the sun set, and the hopeful smile he left behind eased his heart. Those who decide in haste with anger and fear may be dragged into greater troubles while seeking peace. Whoever wants everything ends up losing everything.