No, kind words are better, but good story.

I was all there until "Money is better than kind words."

I can't help but feel that's a shallow moral. I mean, would you rather have everyone love you and be nice to you, or have everyone hate you but pay you your salary? I know what you mean by it, because in this the snake's kind words were hollow and he was really only a lying snake, but in general the moral is depressing.

This probably sounds really mean, sorry. It's just that the story made me sad. Usually fables don't do that. Unexpected :(

I get what this is saying, and it's never better to trust a snakes words.

But having a short life filled mostly with happiness is better than a long life without... : poor guy couldn't get a break.

You're right, This is an important fable with a moral that we should always remember.