“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Adopted by Steve Jobs)
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A Man and his Son walked to market aside of their Donkey.
A passerby said, “Fools, ride the Donkey!” So, the Man put the Boy on the Donkey.
Then they passed a group of men, “Look at that lazy Boy, riding while his father walks!” So the Man got onto the Donkey instead of his Son.
Then, two nearby women exclaimed, “Shame on the Father for making his son walk!”
So, the Man lifted up his Son and now they both rode upon the Donkey. But, the townspeople, seeing both the Father and Son riding the Donkey, shouted jeers that the Man and his Son were abusing the Donkey by overloading him.
So, the Father cut a pole, tied the Donkey’s feet to it, carrying the Donkey upside down on the pole between them. But, alas, the Donkey struggled so much on the pole, that they could no longer hold onto the pole, accidently dropping the Donkey over a bridge into the chasm below.
Moral of the Story: Try to please everyone, you please no one.
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Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Related Articles: John Stuart Mill – Leadership is Thinking Independently; John Stuart Mill – Leadership and Being Unique from the Crowd; Pleasing Everyone, Pleasing No One – No. 71. The Man with Two Wives – The Essential Aesop™- Back to Basics Abridgment Series; Be Yourself – No. 73. The Ass in the Lion’s Skin – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series
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Why We Loved It: Some situations require a choice. In the cases set forth in the fable, each of the onlookers had a personal preference, often caused by each person’s own respective biases. So Aesop moves the circumstantial progression from the comfortable to the absurd to make his point.
Many acts will have just as many supporters as detractors, and Aesop reminds us to do what we think is best, lest we be cast into a vortex of spinning immobility. It simply tends to be that we will have criticism no matter what we do, and the extent of criticism tends to rise to the occasion. But, insecurity matched with peer pressure will move us from the steadfastness of ourselves.
“Yes, thank you very much for your opinion. I have considered that there are many others who agree with you and say the same thing. But, this is the manner of my own preference, even if I am in a unique minority of one.”
Listening to other opinions shows the virtue of an open mind. A truly open mind manifests the virtue of willingness to learn and to adapt, necessary for survival and growth. A wise person will tend to entertain different reasoned views, without necessarily yielding.
To the fool, stubbornness looks exactly the same as confidence, by viewing only effect and not cause, but wisdom sees the difference. Refusing to yield may occur in both cases of confidence and stubbornness, but that is only the effect. The cause of that effect is different in each case.
Properly placed, confidence is rational and a type of bravery, both virtues. Stubbornness is irrational because it no longer thinks, and it is too weak or cowardly to accept a change from itself, being vices.
Thusly, the clever paradoxical wit of the beautiful John Adams when he said, “Thanks to God that he gave me stubbornness, when I know I am right.“
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“Gradus reprehensionis oritur occasione.” (“The extent of criticism rises to the occasion.”) ~grz
© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn. Arnold Zegarelli can be contacted through Facebook.
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