--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fable The mountain and the squirrel Had a…" description: "\"“Fable The mountain and the squirrel Had a quarrel, And the former called the latter, \"little prig \": Bun replied, \"You are doubtless very big; But all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_fable_fable-the-mountain-and-the-squirrel-had_2223503.jpg" --- # Fable The mountain and the squirrel Had a quarrel, And the… ![“Fable The mountain and the squirrel Had a quarrel, And the former called the latter, "little prig ": Bun replied, "You are doubtless very big; But all sorts of things and weather Must be taken in together To make up a year, And a sphere. And I think it no disgrace To occupy my place. If I'm not so…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_fable_fable-the-mountain-and-the-squirrel-had_2223503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_fable_fable-the-mountain-and-the-squirrel-had_2223503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_fable_fable-the-mountain-and-the-squirrel-had_2223503.jpg) > ““Fable The mountain and the squirrel Had a quarrel, And the former called the latter, "little prig ": Bun replied, "You are doubtless very big; But all sorts of things and weather Must be taken in together To make up a year, And a sphere. And I think it no disgrace To occupy my place. If I'm not so large as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry. I'll not deny you make A very pretty squirrel track; Talents differ; all is well and wisely put; If I cannot carry forests on my back, Neither can you crack a nut.”” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mountain and squirrel discuss their differences, emphasizing that each has unique strengths and roles, and that neither should be judged by size alone **In simple terms:** Different abilities are equally valuable Key Takeaway Recognize and respect diverse talents Themes humility perspective diversity Mood reflective thoughtful Type fable philosophical When to use this quote - teamwork - conflict resolution - environmental education - leadership development Key Concepts Ecology comparative advantage interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How do you value contributions that differ from your own? - What assumptions do you make about others based on appearance? A Different Perspective Size does not determine worth or capability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bun Replied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bun-replied-4972503/) [Fable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fable/) [Mountain Squirrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain-squirrel-4972504/) [Squirrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squirrel/) [Squirrel Quarrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squirrel-quarrel-4972502/) ## Related quotes > [I can find my biography in every fable that I read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-can-find-my-biography-in-every-fable-that-i-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The moral of a fable is eternal. The moral of a story is temporary to a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/the-moral-of-a-fable-is-eternal-the-moral-of-a-story-is-temporary-to/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [The Fable story hinted at a dramatic time before 'Fable 1' when the Guild was founded, this would be a perfect setting for 'Fable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/the-fable-story-hinted-at-a-dramatic-time-before-fable-1-when-the/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [I think it's fantastic that people still remember Fable, and some of them are really passionate about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/i-think-it-s-fantastic-that-people-still-remember-fable-and-some-of/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [As though she had entered a fable, as though she were no more than words crawling along a dry page, or as though she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/as-though-she-had-entered-a-fable-as-though-she-were-no-more-than/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [For me, the photography, in its purest form, is a variant of the fable. Another way of saving the appearances - a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/for-me-the-photography-in-its-purest-form-is-a-variant-of-the-fable/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Fable is more historical than fact, because fact tells us about one man and fable tells us about a million men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/fable-is-more-historical-than-fact-because-fact-tells-us-about-one/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [From this, without doubt, sprang the fable. Man created it thus, because it was not given him to see more than himself and nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-vigny/from-this-without-doubt-sprang-the-fable-man-created-it-thus-because/) [Alfred de Vigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-vigny/) > [“In the specially Christian case we have to react against the heavy bias of fatigue. It is almost impossible to make the facts vivid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/in-the-specially-christian-case-we-have-to-react-against-the-heavy/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“A fable from the Age of Heroes." The maester tsked. "You must put these dreams aside, they will only break your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-fable-from-the-age-of-heroes-the-maester-tsked-you-must-put-these/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“A Little Fable "Alas," said the mouse, "the whole world is growing smaller every day. At the beginning it was so big that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-little-fable-alas-said-the-mouse-the-whole-world-is-growing-smaller/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [When we transitioned from the PC to the console with 'Fable,' it took us five years to do that. And that's just going from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/when-we-transitioned-from-the-pc-to-the-console-with-fable-it-took-us/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [“This isn’t a game to me, Fable. This is my life. And I want you to be a part of it … I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/this-isn-t-a-game-to-me-fable-this-is-my-life-and-i-want-you-to-be-a/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [Despite the strength of the feminist movement in the 1970s and beyond, a fable has persisted that educated women are rejected as marriage partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/despite-the-strength-of-the-feminist-movement-in-the-1970s-and-beyond/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [In 'Fable III' we have taken away the experience system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/in-fable-iii-we-have-taken-away-the-experience-system/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Fable quotes > [In 'Fable III' we have taken away the experience system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/in-fable-iii-we-have-taken-away-the-experience-system/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [Despite the strength of the feminist movement in the 1970s and beyond, a fable has persisted that educated women are rejected as marriage partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/despite-the-strength-of-the-feminist-movement-in-the-1970s-and-beyond/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [“This isn’t a game to me, Fable. This is my life. And I want you to be a part of it … I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/this-isn-t-a-game-to-me-fable-this-is-my-life-and-i-want-you-to-be-a/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [When we transitioned from the PC to the console with 'Fable,' it took us five years to do that. And that's just going from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/when-we-transitioned-from-the-pc-to-the-console-with-fable-it-took-us/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [“A Little Fable "Alas," said the mouse, "the whole world is growing smaller every day. At the beginning it was so big that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-little-fable-alas-said-the-mouse-the-whole-world-is-growing-smaller/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“A fable from the Age of Heroes." The maester tsked. "You must put these dreams aside, they will only break your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-fable-from-the-age-of-heroes-the-maester-tsked-you-must-put-these/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“In the specially Christian case we have to react against the heavy bias of fatigue. It is almost impossible to make the facts vivid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/in-the-specially-christian-case-we-have-to-react-against-the-heavy/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [From this, without doubt, sprang the fable. Man created it thus, because it was not given him to see more than himself and nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-vigny/from-this-without-doubt-sprang-the-fable-man-created-it-thus-because/) [Alfred de Vigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-vigny/) > [Fable is more historical than fact, because fact tells us about one man and fable tells us about a million men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/fable-is-more-historical-than-fact-because-fact-tells-us-about-one/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [For me, the photography, in its purest form, is a variant of the fable. Another way of saving the appearances - a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/for-me-the-photography-in-its-purest-form-is-a-variant-of-the-fable/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [As though she had entered a fable, as though she were no more than words crawling along a dry page, or as though she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/as-though-she-had-entered-a-fable-as-though-she-were-no-more-than/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I think it's fantastic that people still remember Fable, and some of them are really passionate about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/i-think-it-s-fantastic-that-people-still-remember-fable-and-some-of/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [The Fable story hinted at a dramatic time before 'Fable 1' when the Guild was founded, this would be a perfect setting for 'Fable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/the-fable-story-hinted-at-a-dramatic-time-before-fable-1-when-the/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [The moral of a fable is eternal. The moral of a story is temporary to a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/the-moral-of-a-fable-is-eternal-the-moral-of-a-story-is-temporary-to/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“Buy Fable! the book that rejuvenates your soul! makes your belly belly-laugh! turns your cares to dust!...likewise your moods, woes an wounds!...turns everything rosy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/buy-fable-the-book-that-rejuvenates-your-soul-makes-your-belly-belly/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) [Browse all 103 Fable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Fable The mountain and the squirrel Had a quarrel, And the former called the latter, \"little prig \": Bun replied, \"You are doubtless very big; But all sorts of things and weather Must be taken in together To make up a year, And a sphere. And I think it no disgrace To occupy my place. If I'm not so large as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry. 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