The Ostrich's Foolish Pride

The Ostrich and the Hare were arguing about who could run faster. "My legs are long and powerful," boasted the Ostrich. "I am the fastest creature on the plains." They agreed to a race. The Ostrich shot off at an incredible speed, leaving the Hare far behind. So confident was the Ostrich that it decided it didn't need to pay attention to the path. It ran with its head held high in the air, a picture of pride. The Hare, though slower, ran with its head low to the ground, watching carefully for obstacles. The Ostrich, not looking where it was going, ran straight into a large aardvark hole and broke its leg. The Hare, slow and steady, simply ran around the hole and continued on to the finish line, winning the race. The moral of the story is a common Maasai proverb: "Pride comes before the fall." It teaches that paying attention to the path under your feet is more important than holding your head high in the air with pride.