"The Little Engine That Could" is a children's story that delivers several lessons to the reader, some of which are obvious and others less so. I read it as a child and remember the obvious lesson of "think positive". Having read it repeatedly during recent weeks (by request of my son), I've come to understand and appreciate the less-obvious lessons, and I feel obligated to share these bits of wisdom with others.

Obvious Lessons

1. Think Positive - as long as you believe in yourself, you can accomplish great things. "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." And then of course you do. It doesn't always work out like this in life, but there is truth to the power of positive thinking. This is the main lesson we get from The Little Blue Engine.
   
2. Don't Be Negative - if you can't think positive, at least don't be negative; by not believing in yourself, you will certainly not succeed. This lesson is a bit more hidden than the first. It comes from the old, tired engine who just doesn't believe in himself, so that's the reality he creates - he thinks he can't, he can't, he doesn't. What does being negative get you? Nothing, so don't do it.
   

Less Obvious Lessons

1. Maintain Your Vehicle - shown in the context of a train, but applies to cars, too. If you don't maintain your vehicle, it might break down and cause a ton of problems. Not just for you, but everyone else involved. And if it was preventable through regular maintenance, then whatever chaos ensues as a result of your broken-down vehicle is ultimately your fault. This comes from the very first engine in the story who was obviously not well-maintained, and breaks down as a result.
   
2. Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket - if you do and the basket breaks, you're shit outta luck. In the story, we are reminded of this lesson repeatedly - if the train doesn't make it over the mountain, then the kids won't have food or toys. Really? They've got nothing else to eat over there? And no toys? We're led to believe the children are sitting over there, presumably staring at the wall, hungry, bored, waiting for this train. (Sounds like most of Africa, but I don't see anyone writing cute children's stories about that.) Anyway, is the situation in the story really so dramatic? "Damn, if that train doesn't make it here by tomorrow, then the children are gonna starve! And be bored, too - no toys!" Whoever runs that town needs to wise up and get some more goods flowing in. And maybe inform the toy clown that he should tone it down a little because children in Ethiopia would love to have a train of food and toys show up late instead of not at all.
   
3. Just Because Someone Is In Charge, They Could Still Be A Clown - pretty self-explanatory. Leaders are often buffoons. In the story, the leader is a toy clown. In real life, many leaders (bosses, managers, directors, etc.) are often clowns, too.