Once there lived a young shepherd boy who took his sheep daily to the foot of a mountain for grazing. As he felt rather lonely being alone all day, he thought of an idea by which he could get create a commotion and find some company.

He rushed down toward the village crying, "Wolf, wolf." As there was a dark forest near the mountain, the villagers thought it was a genuine call for help and came to meet him. Some of them spent considerable time with him asking him details. The boy was so pleased that a few days afterwards he tried the same trick, and again the villagers came to his help.

But shortly after this, it really happened - a wolf came out of the forest and began to worry the sheep. The boy of course cried out, "Wolf, wolf," louder than before. But this time the villagers, who had been fooled twice before, thought the boy was up to his tricks again. So nobody came to his help.

The wolf made a good meal off the boy's flock, and when the boy complained, the wise man of his village said,"A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth."