fox and the grapes

one of Aeso 's Fables. A fox tries many times to pluck p some grapes that dangle invitingly over his head, but he cannot reach them. As he slinks away in disgust, he says, "Those grapes are probably sour anyway." The moral of the story is: "Every man tries to convince himself that the thing he cannot have is of no value."

See also Aesop in this glossary.