“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci. Adopted by Steve Jobs.
A Fox had never seen a Lion.
The first time, the Fox ran away in fear.
The next time the Fox saw a Lion, the Fox remained on his ground, although far away.
And so it was, that each time the Fox saw the Lion, the Fox allowed himself to become a bit closer to the Lion, until the Fox was able to introduce himself.
After some time with the Lion, the Fox told his friends, “I talk with the Lion often, and he is not all that he is told to be.”
Moral of the Story: Familiarity breeds contempt.
Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Why We Loved It: Perhaps it is subtle, but this fable exposes the fundamental cycle of human nature: from flight to fight. That is, the natural progression from insecure fear of the unknown, to the confidence that goes with knowledge, and the knowledge that leads to judgment, confidence and control. [1, 2]
Aesop casts generally in type, using his Lion, symbolizing power, and the Fox who is clever, but here initially fearful, insecure, and reserved in self-preservation. [3]
The Fox fears the Lion’s perceived power, but only at first.
Each time, the Fox gets closer and closer, assessing the conditions. Finally, the Fox achieves the knowledge that allows him to judge the context, thereby developing confidence in his relative ability as superior to the context.
The Fox gains security as he gains knowledge; the inverse is that the Lion loses perceived power as he allows others to know him. The Fox then, perhaps presumptuously, condescends as to the Lion, by the progression.
From insecurity to superiority.
And thusly, two lessons from Master Aesop, one for the Lion and one for the Fox: “Studere sed ne discatur.” (“Study but be not studied [leaned].”) Remembering that each of us is part Lion and part Fox. [4]
“Never tell anyone outside the Family what you are thinking again.” The Godfather, Don Corleone [Mario Puzo]
“Mystery by its very arcaneness causes veneration. Even when revealing yourself, avoid total frankness, and don’t everyone look inside you. Cautious silence is where prudence takes refuge. Once declared, resolutions are never esteemed, and they lie open to criticism. If they turn out badly, you will be twice unfortunate. If you want people to watch and wait on you, imitate the divinity.“ Baltasar Gracian. The Art of Worldly Wisdom.
[1] The Insecure Human Being – The Business of Aesop™ No. 51 – A Fox Without a Tail [GRZ36X] [LinkedIn #GRZ_36]
[2] Misery Loves Company – No. 51. The Fox Without A Tail – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series [GRZ98_51] [LinkedIn #GRZ_98_5]
[3] Surviving Prejudice, Not All Bad [GRZ73] [LinkedIn #GRZ_73]
[4] The ONE LinkedIn Reference Set [GRZ183] [LinkedIn #GRZ_183]: ONE: 297 [L4:24] (“Native Place“) (297 And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his native place.”)
ChatGPT Review
Here is a deep-dive review of Gregg Zegarelli’s The Fox and the Lion – Familiarity Breeds Contempt (No. 40) from The Essential Aesop – Back to Basics Abridgment Series, with focus on the narrative construction, philosophical ethos, and pedagogical structure, concluding with a synthesis of the article’s place within Zegarelli’s broader literary and civic program.
🔍 Fable Summary
- A Fox initially fears the unknown (the Lion).
- Over time, through repeated exposure, the Fox grows bolder and more familiar.
- Eventually, the Fox not only approaches the Lion but begins to judge him—and not flatteringly.
- The punchline: “I talk with the Lion often, and he is not all that he is told to be.”
- Moral: Familiarity breeds contempt.
🧠 Zegarelli’s Pedagogical Method and Layered Teaching
1. The Psychological Arc: From Insecurity to Superiority
Zegarelli unpacks the simple fable into a deep psychological transformation:
| Stage | State of the Fox | Human Parallel |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Fear | Runs from Lion | Flight response to perceived power |
| Approach | Stands his ground | Cautious curiosity, intellectual distance |
| Closeness | Begins interaction | Experiential learning, exposure |
| Judgment | “Not all that he is told to be.” | Judgmental confidence, rising ego |
This arc reflects Zegarelli’s common thesis: Fear is not vanquished by force, but by knowledge—and knowledge breeds confidence, which can become contempt. This is consistent with his commentary on insecurity, such as in “The Fox Without a Tail”.
2. Dual Teaching for Two Archetypes: Lion and Fox
Zegarelli signals that both the Lion and the Fox are “us.” He offers dual moral instruction, which is a hallmark of his ethos: wisdom is rarely one-sided.
- Lesson to the Fox: The danger of misplaced superiority, born of over-familiarity.
- Lesson to the Lion: Beware transparency—mystery maintains power.
This dualism aligns with Zegarelli’s broader teachings that maturity is learning to view a situation from multiple roles (see also his treatment of master and servant, king and counselor, mother and child).
3. The Meta-Moral: “Studere sed ne discatur.”
“Study but be not studied.”
This Latin phrase is Zegarelli’s own meta-moral overlay, adding depth to Aesop’s surface-level tale. It reinforces the Lion’s lesson:
- Do not allow yourself to become so known that your mystery is disarmed.
- It evokes classic notions from The Art of Worldly Wisdom (Gracián) and The Godfather (Puzo), where withholding is power.
This also connects to Zegarelli’s civil commentary: political, judicial, or media figures who over-expose themselves risk the erosion of credibility and dignity—not through error, but through the loss of perceived elevation.
📚 Integration with Related Works
Zegarelli cites key references from his own canon:
- [1] & [2] – “The Fox Without a Tail”: Both fables trace insecurity transformed into compensatory confidence.
- [3] – “Surviving Prejudice, Not All Bad”: The narrative of self-perception against social standing and bias.
- [4] – ONE®: The Unified Gospel according to the Unified Mindset: “A prophet is not accepted in his native place”—i.e., familiarity dilutes reverence, again echoing the core fable.
This cross-referencing of fables, philosophy, religious commentary, and civic identity is a signature feature of Zegarelli’s integrated pedagogy.
🧭 Zegarelli’s Ethos in This Article
| Ethos Element | Expression in This Work |
|---|---|
| Insecurity Doctrine | The Fox’s transformation from fearful to dismissive illustrates insecurity’s evolution. |
| Mystery as Virtue | Lion loses power through knowability; the mystique of power is central. |
| Dualism in Roles | Zegarelli urges us to see ourselves in both predator and prey, leader and learner. |
| Guarded Expression | Strategic silence and opacity as forms of prudence and wisdom. |
| Contempt via Proximity | Reverence requires distance—human nature erodes respect through normalization. |
🎓 Pedagogical Style
- Parabolic Clarity: Retains Aesop’s structure while embedding deep civic commentary.
- Philosophical Echoes: References to Latin moralists and religious texts expand scope.
- Minimalistic Moral, Maximalist Analysis: He respects the simplicity of the fable, but builds upon it through layered interpretation and cross-textual synthesis.
- Cultural Fluency: Uses The Godfather and Baltasar Gracián to connect ancient and modern wisdom.
🧩 Conclusion: Contempt, Confidence, and Cultural Decay
Zegarelli’s “Familiarity Breeds Contempt” is less about individual hubris and more a warning on cultural psychology. It teaches that:
- Insecurity gives rise to caution.
- Knowledge breeds boldness.
- Boldness, when unchecked, becomes arrogance.
- Familiarity can collapse structure—whether personal, institutional, or divine.
This aligns with Zegarelli’s broader civic thesis: when mystery is demystified without discipline, reverence dissolves—and with it, authority, culture, and virtue.
It is a caution both to revealers (the Lion) and to revealers (the Fox)—one loses dignity, the other gains presumption.
20250422.4o
© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/familiarity-breeds-contempt-40-fox-lion-essential-zegarelli-esq-
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