“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci. Adopted by Steve Jobs.
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One day, the great Lion walked through the forest, and the animals respectfully made way for him. But, alas, an envious Ass brayed a scornful remark as the Lion passed.
The Lion heard the remark and felt a moment of anger. But when he turned to see that it was the Ass who had spoken, the Lion walked quietly on.
The Lion would not honor the Ass with even so much as a response.
Moral of the Story: Consider the source. Do not waste energy on the immaterial. A statement is qualified by the context and the speaker.
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Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Related Article: Bearing Insults – No. 7. The Bear and the Bees – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series
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Why We Loved It: Particularly in a social media-driven culture, there is a tendency to give every comment time and attention. Aesop’s wise teaching reminds us to step-back and consider the source. Not all comments merit our response, or ground a reaction.
Aesop’s fable here is the same essential lesson as The Bear and the Bees [1], but attributing inverse exemplary effects by inverse reactions from the same formulaic causation. That is, in The Bear and the Bees, Aesop’s Bear reacted to the insult and adduced even more ridicule and shame for himself. The Bear gave the Bees a clear and easy path to injure him further.
Here, the Lion nullified the power of the Ass by not dignifying the Ass with any response. The Lion cut it off. The silent insult. Thus, the adage, “Non parvae fluctus magnis navibus petram.” (“Small waves do not rock great ships.”). [2, 3, 4]
But, there’s something more here. There is a lesson that teaches us about something more dangerous, and more subtle.
The Bear exposed his vulnerability and weak spots.
[5] “Contumeliae nostrae produnt.” (“Our insults betray us.”) Each reaction is offering a “handle” to enemies, used to injure us, to manipulate us, and to control us. [6] Not pretty, but true. The Lion’s non-response accepted nothing, offered nothing, and disclosed nothing. The Lion didn’t bite or take the bait.
As Socrates point out wisely:
“If a donkey had kicked me, should I have taken it to court?”
[3] Whom the Gods Would Destroy, They First Tease with Political Incorrectness [#GRZ_74]
[4] Donald Trump; Or, The Mean Insult v. The Tactical Insult [#GRZ_108]
[5] Salt, Wounds, and the Most Unkindest Cuts of All [#GRZ_67]
[6] On Empathy: To Give Empathy Is a Blessing; To Need Empathy Is a Curse [#GRZ_106]
“Quod nos laedit et corrodit infirmitates nostras detegit.” (“That which injures and corrodes us reveals our weaknesses.”); “Iniuriae nostrae produnt.” (“Our injuries betray us.”); “Contumeliae nostrae produnt.” (“Our insults betray us.”); “Non parvae fluctus magnis navibus petram.” (“Small waves do not rock great ships.”) ~ grz
“That which is not weak does not have to defend itself.” Arnold and Robert Zegarelli, The Zegarelli Credo
“Since he often spoke too vehemently in the course of his inquiries, men pummeled him with their fists or tore his hair out, and for the most part he was laughed at and despised. And he bore all these things so patiently that once when he had been kicked, and someone expressed surprise that he stood for it, Socrates replied, ‘If a donkey had kicked me, should I have taken it to court?’“ Diogenes Laertius, ~ On Socrates, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers.
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© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn. Arnold Zegarelli can be contacted through Facebook.
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