A Hare was one day making fun of a Tortoise for being so slow upon his feet.
“Wait a bit,” said the Tortoise. “I will run a race with you, and I dare say I shall win.”
“Oh, well,” replied the Hare, who was much amused at the idea, “let us try and see.”
So it was soon agreed that a Fox should mark out the course and be the judge. When all was ready the race began.
The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped. To show how little he thought of the Tortoise, he lay down by the wayside to take a nap. “There is plenty of time,” he thought. “I can sleep a while and still win with ease.”
Meanwhile the Tortoise came plodding along, slow but steady. He never stopped for a moment, but kept going, one small step after another, straight toward the goal.
The Hare slept on. When at last he awoke and looked about, the Tortoise was near the finish line. The Hare ran as fast as he could, but it was too late. There sat the Tortoise, quietly waiting, already at the goal.
Slow and steady wins the race.