​A hungry Fox was strolling through a vineyard when he spotted a beautiful, luscious bunch of ripe grapes hanging high on a vine, trained over a lofty branch. His mouth watered at the sight.

​The Fox desperately tried to reach them, jumping and leaping with all his strength, but the grapes were just too high. After many tireless and unsuccessful attempts, the Fox finally gave up, exhausted and disappointed.

​As he walked away, he looked back at the grapes and sniffed disdainfully, muttering to himself, "I am sure they are sour anyway! I wouldn't eat them even if I could reach them."

​The Moral and Meaning

​The classic moral of the story is:

​There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.

​The phrase "sour grapes" entered the English language from this fable and is used to describe someone who minimizes, criticizes, or dismisses something they desire but cannot obtain, as a way to rationalize their failure and protect their ego.

• ​In psychology, this behavior is a classic example of rationalization (a defense mechanism) or cognitive dissonance.