What is the moral of three little pigs story?

Moral: The value of hard work and dedication

The tale of three little pigs features three piglets who talk and act like humans. Through these human-like pigs, the story teaches many lessons to children. First, let’s look at the story of the three little pigs.

Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. One of them built his house with straw while another built his house with sticks. Both of them built their houses very quickly. Then they sang and danced and played all day because they were lazy. But the third little pig was a hard worker. He worked hard all day and built a house with bricks.

One day, a big bad wolf saw the two little pigs while they were dancing and playing and thought what a tasty meal they will make. The wolf chased the two pigs. They ran and hid in their houses. The wolf first went to the house made of straw. He huffed and puffed and blew the house down in minutes. The frightened owner ran into his brother’s house that was made of sticks. The wolf now came to this house and huffed and puffed again and blew the house down in hardly any time. Now, the two homeless pigs were scared stiff and ran to the third pig’s house which was made of bricks.

The wolf tried to huff and puff and blow the third house down, but he could not. The poor wolf kept trying for hours and hours but the brick house was very strong, and the three little pigs were safe inside. Then the wolf tried to enter through the chimney, but the wise little pig boiled a big pot of water and kept it below the chimney. The big bad wolf fell into the boiling water and died.

The two little pigs now regretted being so lazy. They also built new houses with bricks and lived happily ever after.

Hard work and perseverance pay off at the end

What is the Moral of the Three Little Pigs

The moral of Three Little Pigs is that hard work and perseverance pays off at the end. The first two pigs were lazy, and they did not want to work hard. So they built their houses very easily and spent their time playing around. But the third pig is more far-sighted and takes time and effort to build the house with brick. It is the third pig’s hard work and cleverness that save all three in the end.

Choosing your priorities is another lesson that can be learned from this story. The first two pigs cannot see the importance of building a house properly; they are more concerned about playing and dancing. But the third pig realizes the importance of building the house properly; thus, he is able to save all their lives.

Image Courtesy:

“Three little pigs” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia  

November 14, 2017 • 3 minute read • by Saeed

“Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice.” ~ Henry Ford

The story of “The Three Little Pigs” was one of my favorite childhood stories. The central idea behind this tale, that taking the time to perform a task the right way is prudent, and that shortcuts are a false economy, has been adopted by many work organizations since the book was initially published in 1849. Here are a few other lessons we can learn from this famed fable:

1.      Hard work pays off – The primary moral lesson learned from “The Three Little Pigs” is that hard work and dedication pay off. The first two pigs quickly built homes in order to have more free time to play. But the third pig labored in the construction of his house of bricks. Compared to the other two pigs, the third pig’s extra effort paid off in the end. He wasn’t eaten by the big bad wolf.

2.      Short cuts can cost you a lot – The first two pigs built houses of straw and sticks. While they were able to get the work done fast and had more time for leisure, their houses did not stand up to the huffs and puffs of the big bad wolf. They ended up losing their homes and in some versions, their very lives.

3.      Plan strategically – While it can be argued that all three pigs created a plan for the future – the first pigs made plans that were ultimately unsustainable. A straw house or even a stick house would not stand up against a hurricane.  Disaster preparedness was not part of their plan. The first two, could not delay the gratification of leisure time. The third little pig, on the other hand, did some future planning and decided to build a house that could withstand any future scenario, including a big bad wolf.

4.      Plan for the worst, hope for the best – The first two pigs never anticipated the big bad wolf. The third pig seemed to take all things into consideration in his choice of building materials. He was prepared when the unexpected happened. As the saying goes: “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” By considering every possible scenario, you can build a stronger house.

5.      Know your limits– The big bad wolf thought he was invincible. His bravado and ego were boosted by his early successes. He easily blew down the house of straw, and the house of sticks, though a little harder to blow down, was still no match for his lungs. But when he came across the house of bricks, he fell short. He had failed to assess the situation properly, and therefore, used his resources up on trying to do the impossible.

6.      Know when to quit – Sometimes it’s worth pursuing a goal; sometimes you need to be willing to let it go. The wolf pursued the three pigs even though he wore himself out trying to blow down the house of bricks. He should have stopped while he was ahead and focused on easier prey. But greed got the better of him and he continued his pursuit which landed him in hot water, or hot oil, depending on which version you read.

7.      Work hard now, reap the rewards later – The first two pigs were more interested fun and vacations. Building safe, sturdy homes was not a priority. They paid a dear price for their inability to delay gratification. But the third pig knew that some extra effort and austerity in the present, would lead to greater prosperity in the future.

8.      Be philanthropic – The third pig spent the time and effort to build a house from bricks and mortar. While his brothers were enjoying a leisurely existence, he was busy working away building a strong house. In the end, both of the lazy brothers found refuge in the sturdy home of their more practical brother in the versions where the pigs manage to escape the wolf. Just because he was the smarter of the three, did not mean he would thumb his nose at them and leave them in the cold. The third pig was a role model for empathy and understanding.

9.      Be Patient – The third little pig is nothing if not patient, a somewhat unrecognized virtue in leadership. Building a career, company, relationship, or in the case of our protagonist, a house, takes time. In his wisdom, the third little pig was deliberate and patient and his reward for his patience was to get away with his life.

There are more than just construction lessons to be learned from the three little pigs. These little characters can teach a lot about life and survival and their personalities reflect their outlook on the world. These lessons are prudent and practical and can be found in many of the writings of the greatest business minds in history – yet everything you need to know, you were probably taught in preschool.

Good luck.

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©2017 – All Content by Saeed H. Mirfattah, M.A