Greed & Consequences
Read 140 moral stories about greed and its consequences — cautionary tales from India, Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond. These fables show what happens when characters let desire, avarice, and selfishness guide their actions. From golden geese to magic lamps, these folk tales about greed carry powerful lessons about contentment, generosity, and knowing when enough is enough.
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
The Miser In The Bush
A faithful servant who shows kindness to a magical being gains reward while a cruel miser faces supernatural retribution.
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
The King Of The Golden Mountain
The King Of The Golden Mountain: There was once a merchant who had only one child, a son, that was very young, and barely able to run alone. He had two richly
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
The Golden Goose
The Golden Goose: There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was called Dummling,[*] and was despised, mocked, and sneered at on every occasion.
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
The Golden Bird
The Golden Bird: A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted, and about
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin: By the side of a wood, in a country a long way off, ran a fine stream of water; and upon the stream there stood a mill. The miller’s house was
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
Rapunzel
Rapunzel: There were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a child. At length the woman hoped that God was about to grant her desire.
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
Mother Holle
Mother Holle: Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters; one of them was beautiful and industrious, the other ugly and lazy. The mother
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
Briar Rose
Briar Rose: A king and queen once upon a time reigned in a country a great way off, where there were in those days fairies. Now this king and queen had plenty
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Women’s Words Part Flesh And Blood
Women's Words Part Flesh And Blood: Once upon a time there were two brothers, who lived in the same house. And the big brother listened to his wife’s words
Chinese Folk Tales
All Ages
Which Lay A Carbuncle
Which Lay A Carbuncle: Then the king was alarmed and said: “What the fickle boy did was not to be endured, it is true. But still you were a little too rough
Chinese Folk Tales
All Ages
The Widow Ho
The Widow Ho: One day in the early dawn, a distinguished mandarin was leaving the temple of the City God. It was his duty to visit this temple on the first and
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Weaving Maiden Crosses The Silver River
The Weaving Maiden Crosses The Silver River: The fairy tales and legends of olden China have in common with the “Thousand and One Nights” an oriental glow and