Sour Grapes

Sour Grapes

This work draws from one of Aesop’s oldest fables, The Fox and the Grapes, dating back to ancient Greece. In the tale, a hungry fox tries to reach a hanging bunch of grapes. When he fails, he walks away muttering that they were probably sour anyway.

The story gave rise to the expression “sour grapes”, used when people belittle what they can’t have. It’s that familiar trick we play on ourselves, turning failure into indifference, and pretending we never really wanted it anyway. A little shine, a little pride, but really, it’s just Fools Gold.