“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Adopted by Steve Jobs)
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A hungry Fox spied a Cock roosting just beyond the Fox’s reach.
“Good news!” the Fox cried out to the Cock. “Come down with me! King Lion has declared a universal truce. All beasts shall dwell together in friendship without harm to each other.”
“That is great news, Mr. Fox!” said the Cock, “Let us share the news with Master Dog, as you will see that he is quickly running to us.”
Seeing the Dog, the Fox turned away abruptly and scampered. Thusly, the Cock inquired, “But, Mr. Fox, where are you going? Will you not stop also to congratulate the Dog on our reign of universal peace?”
“I would,” said the Fox, “but I fear he may not have heard of the decree.”
Moral of the Story: Cunning often outwits itself. Fine words do not change the reality of power and risk.
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Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
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Why We Loved It: Aesop teaches us to keep our eye on the ball: the seduction of words.
There is power. And there is authority. And, there is seduction, by which neither power nor authority is required. Clever words will seduce consent. Neither power nor authority is required for the consenting volunteer. [1, 2]
The Fox has neither the authority nor the power to make the Cock come down off of the fence, so he uses his clever words, trying to seduce the Cock into relinquishing skepticism.
Indeed, if the Cock is not vigilant, and if the Cock is not skeptical—being seduced by the fine words—the Cock will foolishly consent to descend to his death, volunteering himself to the Fox’s advantage. But not this day.
The Cock puts the Fox to the test: Let us test your words with review by the Watch Dog.
Don’t be all dove. Let the guile of the serpent alternate with the innocence of the dove. No one is easier to fool than a good man; the person who never lies believes others easily, and the one who never deceives trusts others. Being fooled isn’t always a sign of foolishness; sometimes it shows goodness. Two kinds of people are good at foreseeing danger: those who have learned at their own expense, and the clever people who learn a great deal at the expense of others. You should be as cautious at foreseeing difficulties as you are shrewd at getting out of them. Don’t be so good that you give others the chance to be bad. Be part serpent and part dove; not a monster, but a prodigy.“ ~Baltasar Gracian, The Art of Worldly Wisdom
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” ~Jesus ONE®: 964 [3]
[1] VI. Simulation and Dissimulation; Or, The Art of the Lie. – Back to Basics Abridgement Series [GRZUID190] [LinkedIn #GRZ_190]
[2] Flattery – No. 54. The Fox and the Crow – The Essential Aesop™- Back to Basics Abridgment Series [GRZUID98_54] [LinkedIn #GRZ_98_54]
[3] The ONE LinkedIn Reference Set [#GRZ_183] [LinkedIn #GRZ_183] ONE: 963 [T10:16] (“Duality, Serpents and Doves“)
© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn. Arnold Zegarelli can be contacted through Facebook.
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