One very hot day, a thirsty fox saw some ripe grapes in a garden.

He said to himself, "How lucky I am!

On a hot day like this, ripe grapes will be much nicer than cool water."

Then he walked quietly into the garden, and jumped up at the grapes.

But the fox just missed them.

He tried again and again, but every time he couldn't get the grapes.

Finally, the fox stopped trying.

He said, "I won't try anymore; the grapes are probably sour!"

Aesop ( c. 620 – 564 BCE) was a Greek fabulist and story teller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales are characterized by animals and inanimate objects that speak, solve problems, and generally have human characteristics.