the frog and the ox

Aesop's fable

A frog convinced himself that he could grow as big as an ox if he could only swell his skin. To this end, he began to make so much effort that in a little while he thought he was as big as an ox, and asked the sisters if he had grown enough. They said no, and she continued to swell up asking again how it was.

– “It’s useless”, replied the others, “you can never be bigger than you are.”

Then the frog made a tremendous effort, and burst.

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