The Ant and the Grasshopper – A Moral Story


Updated: 26 Jan, 2025

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Hello dear readers, here is another moral story for you. This story is about an ant and a grasshopper. The ant was hardworking but the grasshopper was careless.

This moral story has two versions:

  • One is short and simple.
  • The other is comprehensive. Read and enjoy

The Ant and The Grasshopper – Short Version – Let’s Read

Once upon a time, in a large, beautiful meadow, there lived an ant and a grasshopper. They were neighbors, but very different from each other.

The ant was hardworking and always busy, while the grasshopper was carefree and loved to enjoy the present moment.

The Grasshopper Is Singing

During the warm summer days, the ant was constantly working, gathering grains, leaves, and seeds from the meadow to store in its nest.

It was preparing for the cold winter ahead. The ant didn’t mind the hard work. It knew that winter would be harsh, and having enough food to survive was important.

The grasshopper, on the other hand, would spend its days hopping around, singing songs, and enjoying the sunshine.

It would watch the ant working and laugh. “Why do you work so hard, little ant?” the grasshopper asked one day. “There is plenty of food now! Come, sing with me and enjoy the beautiful weather. Why worry about the future?”

But the ant, without stopping its work, replied calmly, “I am saving food for the winter when food will be scarce. You should think about the future too, grasshopper.

More Moral Stories

The grasshopper chuckled and said, “Winter is far away. There’s no need to worry. I’m going to enjoy this lovely day. You should join me!” But the ant just shook its head and kept working.

As the days passed, the sun began to set earlier, and the air grew colder. The grasshopper continued to play and sing, ignoring the approaching winter.

Meanwhile, the ant worked tirelessly, gathering food and making sure it had enough supplies to stay safe and warm when the snow arrived.

Finally, the winter came. The meadow was covered in snow, and the cold winds blew fiercely.

The ant stayed warm and well-fed in its nest, while the grasshopper, having done no work in the summer, had nothing to eat. It was cold and hungry.

The grasshopper went to the ant’s nest and knocked on the door. “Please, ant, I am cold and hungry. I didn’t prepare for winter. Can you help me?” it asked.

The Grasshopper Asking For Help

The ant opened the door and looked at the grasshopper with sympathy. “I worked hard all summer to gather food for winter,” the ant said. “Now, I have enough to eat and stay warm. But you, grasshopper, should have thought about the future when you had the chance.”

The grasshopper felt very ashamed and regretful. It had spent the summer playing and singing, thinking that it would always have food. But now, it had nothing.

Moral of the Story

The story teaches us that it’s important to plan for the future. Hard work and preparation are necessary to face tough times ahead.

Enjoy the present, but don’t forget that the future will come, and it’s better to be ready for it.

The Ant and The Grasshopper – Detailed Story

On a warm, sunny summer day, there was a beautiful meadow filled with tall grass and colorful flowers.

The sun shined brightly, and the air was fresh and warm. In this peaceful place, two very different creatures lived: an ant and a grasshopper.

The ant was always busy. From morning till evening, it worked hard, carrying food back to its home.

It was very focused and didn’t take any breaks. The ant knew that summer wouldn’t last forever, and it had to prepare for the colder months ahead.

On the other hand, the grasshopper was carefree. It spent its days hopping around, singing songs, and enjoying the sunny weather.

The grasshopper didn’t worry about the future. It was too busy having fun to think about anything else.

The ant worked hard, while the grasshopper relaxed and enjoyed life. They were very different, but they shared the same meadow.

The Ant’s Hard Work

As the sun shone brightly in the meadow, the ant worked tirelessly, moving back and forth across the ground.

It was gathering food—grains, seeds, and leaves—everything it could find. The ant was very focused on its task, carrying each piece of food with careful attention.

It wasn’t looking around at the flowers or stopping to enjoy the warm weather like the other creatures. The ant’s tiny legs moved quickly as it collected as much as it could.

The ant understood something very important. It knew that summer would not last forever, and soon, the cold winter would arrive.

When winter came, the days would be short, the weather would be freezing, and food would be hard to find.

The ant knew that it needed to gather enough food now, so it would have enough to survive through the harsh months ahead.

Day after day, the ant worked without stopping. It didn’t take any breaks, even when it could hear the birds singing or see the other animals resting in the sun.

The ant didn’t worry about being tired. It knew that by working hard now, it would be prepared for whatever winter brought.

Every grain of food that the ant collected was a small promise of warmth and safety in the cold months to come.

The ant’s dedication and determination were clear, and it didn’t mind the hard work—it was doing what was necessary to be ready for the future.

The Grasshopper’s Carefree Nature

On the other side of the meadow, the grasshopper was having a wonderful time.

It hopped from one tall blade of grass to the next, its legs bouncing joyfully with every leap. The warm sun shone on its green body, and it felt completely carefree.

The grasshopper didn’t worry about anything. It chirped happily, making a pleasant, musical sound that echoed through the meadow.

As the grasshopper enjoyed the summer day, it couldn’t help but notice the ant working hard, carrying grain after grain to its home.

The grasshopper stopped hopping for a moment and looked at the ant. “Why are you working so hard, little ant?” it asked with a smile. “The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and there’s so much fun to be had! Why not take a break and enjoy the weather?

The ant didn’t look up from its work but simply replied, “I’m gathering food for the winter. It will be cold soon, and there won’t be food. I need to be ready.”

The grasshopper laughed and shook its head. “Oh, don’t worry about that! Winter is far away. You’re working too hard! Come, join me! We can hop around, sing, and enjoy the beautiful summer while it lasts. There’s no need to worry about the future.”

The grasshopper invited the ant to join in the fun once again, but the ant remained focused on its task. The grasshopper didn’t understand the ant’s hard work.

It was too busy enjoying the present to think about what might come in the future. It shrugged and went back to singing and hopping, sure that it had plenty of time to worry about winter later.

The Ant’s Warning

As the grasshopper continued to sing and dance in the warm sun, the ant paused for a moment and looked up at the carefree creature.

It sighed, knowing that it had to explain its reasons for working so hard.

“Listen, grasshopper,” said the ant, its voice serious but kind. “I’m gathering food now because I know winter will come soon.

It’s going to be cold, and food will be hard to find. If I don’t prepare now, I might go hungry when the snow falls. Winter always comes faster than we think.”

The grasshopper stopped for a moment and tilted its head, but then it laughed and waved its legs in the air.

“Oh, you’re worrying too much, little ant! It’s still summer! Winter is far away. We have so much time! You should be enjoying the sunshine while it lasts, just like me. Why stress about something that’s not here yet?”

The ant shook its head slowly, its tiny legs still moving quickly as it carried more food to its home. “It’s never too early to prepare for the future. I know the cold will come, and I want to be ready for it. I don’t want to be caught without enough food when it’s too late.”

But the grasshopper just shrugged and hopped away. “Well, suit yourself. I’ll just keep singing and enjoying the warm weather. There’s no need to worry about winter right now.”

As the grasshopper continued to play, the ant went back to its work, knowing it was making the right choice.

The ant understood that sometimes, even when it feels like there’s no need to worry, it’s important to plan ahead.

Meanwhile, the grasshopper stayed in the moment, not thinking about the future at all. The two creatures were as different as could be—one focused on the present, the other preparing for what was to come.

The Approach of Winter

As the days went by, the warm, sunny summer began to fade away. Slowly, the cool breeze of autumn started to fill the air, and the once-bright days became shorter and shorter.

The trees shed their green leaves, and the ground grew colder. It was a sign that winter was just around the corner.

The grasshopper, however, remained unbothered. It continued to hop around, enjoying the last few days of warmth.

The grasshopper’s carefree laughter filled the air as it sang its favorite songs, oblivious to the changes happening around it.

But the ant noticed. Every day, it worked harder and harder, making sure it had enough food for the long winter ahead.

Its home was now filled with grains, seeds, and leaves, all carefully stored for the cold months.

The ant had worked tirelessly, and now it was ready. When winter arrived, the ant would have everything it needed to stay warm and well-fed.

As the first cold winds began to blow, the ant took one last look at its carefully prepared storage and smiled. It knew it had made the right decision.

It had prepared for the future, and now, it was ready for whatever the winter would bring.

Meanwhile, the grasshopper still didn’t worry.

It continued to enjoy the last of the sunshine, believing that the cold days were far away and that there was plenty of time left. Little did the grasshopper know, winter was getting closer every day.

Winter Comes

As the days grew colder, the weather changed completely. Soon, the meadow was covered in a thick layer of snow, and the wind became biting and harsh.

The once warm and sunny days were now a distant memory.

The grasshopper, who had spent the summer carelessly enjoying life, now found itself in trouble.

With no food stored and no shelter to protect it from the cold, the grasshopper was struggling to survive. It shivered in the freezing winds, hungry and weak, wishing it had prepared for this moment.

Looking around, the grasshopper realized it had made a big mistake. It saw the ant’s cozy home from afar, knowing that the ant was safe and well-fed in its warm shelter.

The ant had planned ahead for winter, while the grasshopper had ignored the warnings and continued to live only for the moment.

The grasshopper felt regret. It understood now how important it was to think ahead, to work hard when times were good, and to be ready for the challenges that would come later.

It wished it had listened to the ant’s advice. But now, it was too late. The winter was here, and the grasshopper was left to face the cold, empty meadow, realizing that its carefree days had a price.

The Grasshopper Seeks Help

As the winter winds howled and the snow piled up around the meadow, the grasshopper was struggling. Its stomach growled from hunger, and its small body shivered from the cold.

It had no shelter, no food, and no way to survive the harsh winter that had come.

The grasshopper thought back to the carefree days of summer, but now it was too late to enjoy the warmth or the abundance of food.

With nowhere else to turn, the grasshopper decided to visit the ant’s nest.

The ant had been so busy in the summer, gathering food and preparing for winter. The grasshopper walked slowly, its legs stiff with the cold, until it reached the ant’s home.

The door to the ant’s nest opened, and the grasshopper stood before the ant, shivering and weak. “Please, ant,” the grasshopper pleaded, “I have no food, no shelter, and the cold is unbearable. I should have listened to you. Can you help me? Please, give me some food and warmth.”

The ant, who had worked hard all summer to gather enough food to last through the winter, was sitting inside, cozy and content.

The nest was warm, and the food stores were plentiful. The ant paused for a moment, considering the grasshopper’s plea.

With a sigh, the ant opened the door wider. “Come in, grasshopper,” the ant said kindly. “I will give you food and shelter, but remember, I worked hard all summer for this. It’s important to plan ahead and not wait until it’s too late.”

The grasshopper nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and regret. It had learned a tough lesson, and now, it had to face the consequences of its carefree attitude.

The ant opened its food stores and shared the warmth and supplies with the grasshopper.

The grasshopper, now safe and full, felt deep gratitude. “Thank you, ant,” it said, its voice filled with sincerity. “I realize now that I was foolish to waste the summer. I should have worked harder and thought ahead like you did.”

The ant nodded kindly, but also reminded the grasshopper, “I’ve helped you this time, but remember next summer, don’t forget the lessons you’ve learned today. Work hard, plan, and be prepared for what’s to come. The future isn’t something to ignore.”

The grasshopper promised that it would be wiser next time. It vowed that in the future, it would work hard during the good times to ensure that it was ready when the hard times came.

As the two parted ways, the grasshopper understood that hard work, planning, and preparation were not just about surviving the winter—they were about creating a better future.

Moral of the Story

The story teaches us that it’s important to plan for the future. Hard work and preparation are necessary to face tough times ahead.

While it’s good to enjoy the present, it’s even better to be ready for the challenges that may come.

Follow-Up Questions For This Story

Follow Up Questions
  • Why do you think the grasshopper didn’t prepare for the winter, even though the ant warned it?
  • What could the grasshopper have done differently to be more prepared for winter?
  • How did the ant’s hard work help it survive the winter while the grasshopper struggled?
  • What lesson do you think we can learn from the story about balancing work and play?
  • How do you think the grasshopper felt when it realized its mistake and asked the ant for help?

Rubeena kanwal

Rubeena kanwal

Hello! I am Rubeena Kanwal, the storyteller behind this site. I created this space to share beautiful tales that inspire, entertain, and connect us all.From bedtime and moral to real-life stories, my goal is to add a little magic and meaning to my reader's life. Thanks for joining the journey—happy reading!

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