The Golden Fish (fairy tale)

"The Golden Fish" is a Russian fairy tale about a poor fisherman who catches a magical golden fish. The fish can grant wishes and pleads for release, promising to grant any request. The fisherman initially asks for simple things, but his wife soon becomes greedy, demanding increasingly extravagant wishes, such as a grander home and royal status. Eventually, her greed leads to losing everything, returning them to their original poor state. The story teaches the importance of contentment and warns against greed and overambition, illustrating how insatiable desire can lead to loss.