Not unlike Jack & the Beanstalk, I was reading The Gingerbread Man to my kids recently. We have about 3 different versions of the story in the house. Here's a breakdown of what usually happens. A gingerbread man is made, but then takes off and teases anyone that tries to catch him. The baker who spent the time making the gingerbread man is the first to be outrun by the little food item no matter how hard he or she (depending on which version your reading) runs. Eventually the gingerbread man is tricked by a fox and the fox gets to eat him.

So what's the moral here? Hard work and perseverance will not let you enjoy the spoils of your labour. Instead, try lies and deceit; that seems to be a successful way to get what you want.