The archive
Every story we've collected so far. Filter by topic, era, region, or how close we've gotten to a real source.
Alexander the Great and the Beggar
A beggar asks for alms; Alexander gives gold. Was this really him? Help us trace the earliest appearance.
The Boy and the Glass of Milk
A boy receives a full glass of milk; years later a life is changed. Where did you first hear this?
The Judge and the Unpaid Tickets
A judge pays a poor woman's fine from his own pocket, then declares the law satisfied. Where did this illustration first come from?
Footprints in the Sand
Two sets of footprints become one at the hardest stretch. Several authors have claimed it — which claim holds? Where did you first read or hear it?
The Cracked Pot
A leaking water pot grieves its own flaw — until it sees the flowers along the path. Where did you first hear this tale?
The Bridge Keeper and His Son
A drawbridge operator must lower the gears with his own child below. A modern atonement illustration of murky origin. Where did you first hear it told?
C.S. Lewis and the Hound of Heaven
'The Holy Spirit is after you. I doubt you'll get away!' Did Lewis really say it — and who said it first? Where did you first hear it?