Two friends were travelling along the same path together when a bear suddenly appeared. One of them quickly climbed a tree and hid himself there. The other, who was about to be caught, threw himself down on the ground and feigned death. The bear sniffed him all over with his muzzle, but the man held his breath. For it is said that a bear will not touch a corpse.

When the bear had gone away, the man hiding in the tree came down and asked his friend, "What did the bear whisper in your ear?"
The other replied, "Not to travel in future with friends who slip away when there is danger."

Reprinted with permission from Olivia and Robert Temple, from The Complete Fables, by Aesop, translated by Olivia and Robert Temple, 1998, Penguin Books Ltd, 27 Wrights Lane, London 5TZ, England.

Q: What qualities does Aesop think are important aspects of friendship in this fable?

Q: Courage is a quality that is highly valued in all cultures. Where does courage come from? Is it an intellectual quality? What sort of people are courageous? What stops a person from being courageous?

Q: Think of stories you know where a person has displayed great courage and risked their own safety to save another person or group of people from harm.

Q: In the Sufi tradition, it is said that the spiritual Master is the only true friend. Why do you think they say this?

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.