The Boy Who Cried Wolf

A young shepherd looked after a flock of sheep near a village.

Every day, he sat on a hill and watched the sheep eat grass. The work was quiet, and the boy soon became bored.

One afternoon, he decided to play a trick on the villagers.

— Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep! — he shouted.

The villagers heard him and ran up the hill carrying sticks and tools. But when they arrived, there was no wolf.

The boy laughed.

— I fooled you! There was never a wolf!

The villagers were angry, but they returned to their work.

A few days later, the boy played the same trick again.

— Wolf! Wolf! Please help me!

Once again, the villagers rushed to the hill. Once again, they found no wolf.

The boy laughed even louder.

— You believed me again!

The villagers warned him not to lie, but the boy did not listen.

One evening, a real wolf came out of the forest and approached the flock.

The frightened boy shouted:

— Wolf! Wolf! This time it is real! Please help me!

The villagers heard his cries, but they thought he was playing another trick.

No one came.

The boy tried to protect the sheep, but the wolf frightened the flock and chased several sheep away.

The shepherd finally understood that when someone lies repeatedly, people may stop believing them—even when they are telling the truth.