| The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Real Name |
Goose |
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First Appearance |
Unknown |
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Original Publisher |
Aesop's Fables |
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Created by |
Aesop |
Origin[]
"A cottager and his wife had a Goose that laid a golden egg every day. They supposed that the Goose must contain a great lump of gold in its inside, and in order to get the gold they killed it. Having done so, they found to their surprise that the Hen differed in no respect from their other hens. The foolish pair, thus hoping to become rich all at once, deprived themselves of the gain of which they were assured day by day."
In early tellings, there is sometimes a commentary warning against greed rather than a pithy moral.
The majority of illustrations of "The Goose that laid the Golden Eggs" picture the farmer despairing after discovering that he has killed the goose to no purpose. Having killed the goose that lays the golden eggs, the farmer stands for the politically driven union members. His wife and children sorrow in the background.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of the Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Aesop's Fables
Public Domain Animated Appearances[]
- The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg (1936)
- Goofy Goofy Gander (1950)
Notes[]
- Not to be confused with the Golden Goose.