Short Stories » The Goose with the Golden Eggs

The Goose with the Golden Eggs

Once upon a time, a man and his wife had the good fortune to have a goose which laid a golden egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough.

They imagined that if the bird is able to lay golden eggs, its insides must be made of gold. And they thought that if they could get all that precious metal at once, they would get mighty rich very soon. So the man and his wife decided to kill the bird.

However, upon cutting the goose open, they were shocked to find that its innards were like that of any other goose!

MORAL: Greed can lead to loss; be content with what you have.

More about the story

Kill not the goose that lays golden eggs is a popular proverb in English that is rooted in this story.

When we use this proverb, we mean that anyone who feels entitled to, and tries to get more than he is already receiving, is most likely to get nothing at all in the future.

Read the following example:

Young Johnny had a very kind and generous uncle. Every time Johnny visited him with his parents, he was given five cents. One day, Johnny thought of buying a bike. The next time he met his uncle, he asked him for 50 dollars. “50 dollars?” exclaimed his uncle. “That is a lot of money!”

“Well, you can afford it, and I want to buy a bike,” said Johnny. “You don’t have any children, so you should have a lot of money.”

Johnny’s uncle was very angry. He did not like Johnny’s attitude.

Johnny did not get 50 dollars. He did not get his five cents also any more.

He had killed the goose that laid golden eggs. If he had been wiser, he would have at least got his five cents.

Sometimes, we are not content with what we have, and wish for more. Such discontentment always results in unhappiness, and regret.

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The Goose with the Golden Eggs - Takeaway for Class 1,2,3

Greediness can lead to losing what we already have. Be patient and appreciate what you have.

The Goose with the Golden Eggs - Takeaway for Class 4,5,6

If we are too impatient and want everything all at once, we may end up with nothing. Patience and gratitude are important.

The Goose with the Golden Eggs - Takeaway for Class 7,8,9

Greed and impatience can cloud judgment and lead to reckless decisions. It’s wise to appreciate consistent rewards over a one-time gain that risks losing everything.

3 Fun Facts on The Goose with the Golden Eggs for Children

• This story is another famous Aesop’s fable and teaches about the dangers of greed.
• Real geese don’t lay golden eggs, but they are known for being loyal and protective!
• This tale is so popular that "The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg" has become a phrase used to warn against greed.

The Goose with the Golden Eggs Quiz for Class 1,2,3

• What did the goose lay every day?
• Why did the man and his wife decide to kill the goose?
• What did they find inside the goose?

The Goose with the Golden Eggs Quiz for Class 4,5,6

• What made the man and his wife want to cut open the goose?
• How did greed lead to their loss in the story?
• What lesson does the story teach us about being content?

The Goose with the Golden Eggs Quiz for Class 7,8,9

• Discuss how greed affected the man and his wife’s decisions.
• Do you think the couple would have been happier if they kept the goose alive? Explain.
• Can you think of a time when wanting too much of something led to disappointment?