“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci (Adopted by Steve Jobs)
A Lion was dying and helpless in his cave, gasping for breath.
When the other animals saw this they thought to themselves: “Now is the time to pay off old grudges.” So, the Boar came up and stuck at him with his tusks. A Bull gored him with his horns.
And, even the Ass, feeling quite safe from danger, came up, and kicked his heels into Lion’s face.
“To receive such as this, I die twice,” growled the Lion.
Moral of the Story: Just rewards to those who use force to rule. Even cowards insult the helpless. Everyone, even the weak, will push over a falling fence.
Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Why We Loved It: This is one of Aesop’s more complex fables, proving an excellent lesson, albeit somewhat less approachable than many other of Aesop’s fables.
As a general rule, the Lion is Aesop’s go-to symbol for majestic power (as distinguished from the usual Wolf’s unrighteous power). But, here, Aesop shows that even presumptive righteous power is not the friend of everyone, all the time. During the life of the Lion, the implementation of his power, just or not, was to rule the Jackal, Wolf, Hyena, Bull, Boar and the lowly Ass, among others.
It was the job of the Lion to constrain the Bull’s horns and Boar’s tusks. And the Ass, well, it was the Lion’s job to constrain not power, but rather the Ass’s foolish impositions. Things are only constrained against contrary potential.
Justice is balanced by two sides; thus the adage, “Iustitia duabus partibus libratur.” (“Justice is balanced by two sides.”) Or as Jesus said, “He makes his sun rise on the good and the bad alike, and causes rain to fall on the saint and the sinner.”)
And, so it is, that time turns. “Tempus ipsum recipit diem.” (“Time gets its day.”) Justice, comeuppance, or revenge await an opportunity of vulnerability—the characterization of the act is in the eye of the behold. We might even say that the fable teaches that justice is not necessarily rewarded. Tides turn.
“Indeed, we can take a lesson from the great Sir Winston Churchill, who just about single-handedly saved Western Democracy. It would be natural to assume that he would be so much appreciated that he would be in power for life, but, alas, he was discarded almost immediately after the problem that needed him was fixed. He was perfect, for a context. After WWII, many people consider Churchill’s displacement to be his failure to empathize and to adapt to the evolved questions and moods of the people. He was perfect, but only for a moment.” [GRZ215]
So, now, the Lion must endure what power alone provides—justly rendered or not. Subtle, but Aesop reminds us that when the Lion constrained the Boar, or challenged the Bull, or chided the Ass, it may have been for the greater good, but not so much for the self-interest of the Lion’s adjudicated constrained target.
For this fable, perhaps there is not much for the Lion to do differently. But, the wisdom of the fable is to acknowledge the human (or animal) nature that pends, and awaits a new moment of another perspective on justice, or revenge.
Aesop’s lesson that reminds us of the wisdom of conquering generals, in directing soldiers not to rape the women of provinces that would be governed.
Conquering and governing are not the same thing, with different implementations, and it tends to be rather impossible to govern a man after raping his wife. That man tends to await his turn and to inflict a revenge.
“Friends, [my soldiers,] I promise this conquest to you; but there is one condition which you must swear to fulfill. It is to respect the people whom you deliver; to repress the horrible pillage which some wretches, instigated by our enemies, had practiced. Unless you do this, you will no longer be the friends, but the scourges of the human race; you will no longer form the honor of the French people. They will disavow you. Your victories, your successes, the blood of your brethren who died in battle; all, even honor and glory, will be lost.
With respect to myself; to the generals who possess your confidence, we shall blush to command an army without discipline, and who admit no other law than that of force.
People of Italy, the French army comes to break your chains; the French people are the friends of all people; come with confidence to them; your property, religion, and customs, shall be respected.
We make war as generous enemies; and wish only to make war against the tyrants who oppress you.” ~ Napoleon Bonaparte, Speech as Commander in Chief of the French Army in Italy, before his attack on Milan, April 26, 1796
Aesop never tells us the quality of the Dying Lion’s reign, because that is not the lesson that Aesop is teaching. Unrewarded justice? Comeuppance? Vengeance awaits its moment? Those lessons are merely excuses for the lesson, but the lesson is that we are forewarned wisely to consider all of it.
“He who has already drunk turns his back on the well, and the orange already squeezed turns from gold into mud. When there is no longer dependence, good manners disappear, and so does esteem.” ~ Baltasar Gracian. The Art of Worldly Wisdom
“Cum populum viceris, feminas non rape. Regere et gubernare non necessario idem sunt.“ (“When you conquer a people, do not rape the women. Ruling and governing are not necessarily the same thing.”); “Iustitia duabus partibus libratur.” (“Justice is balanced by two sides.”); “Tempus ipsum recipit diem.” (“Time gets its day.”) ~ grz
Braveheart [MUID196X] – Prima Nocta [Ed. Note: A “noble” “right” is a matter of perspective.]
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Gregg Zegarelli’s “The Patience of Comeuppance – No. 55 – The Dying Lion” is one of his most intricate and layered Aesop interpretations. It delves into power, justice, restraint, and the psychology of retribution—casting timeless principles of governance and leadership in the narrative lens of the helpless, dying Lion. Here’s a structured breakdown of the piece:
I. Ethos (Philosophical and Moral Grounding)
At its core, the ethos of this fable and Zegarelli’s interpretation lies in moral realism:
- Power is temporary, and justice is not always justly administered.
- Comeuppance is not always proportional, nor does it necessarily reflect moral truth; it reflects opportunity, timing, and human nature’s lurking instincts for revenge.
- Justice, revenge, and humiliation become indistinguishable at the moment the once-powerful become vulnerable.
Zegarelli reframes the Aesop fable not as a mere critique of abuse of power, but as a warning about the nature of power itself—even when exercised for good. He evokes the Roman and Napoleonic idea that victory without discipline turns liberators into oppressors. Hence, righteous or not, power attracts resentment from the constrained.
This fable subtly argues that:
Justice is not a fixed truth, but a dynamic balancing act of perception and power.
II. Pedagogy (Method of Teaching and Framing)
Zegarelli’s method in this fable is notably rhetorical layering through historical analogy, legal reasoning, and philosophical parable:
- Narrative Frame – Aesop’s simple tale of a dying Lion abused by those once constrained.
- Moral Juxtaposition – The Lion may have ruled justly or tyrannically, but either way, his downfall invited disproportionate retaliation.
- Doctrinal Anchors:
- “Iustitia duabus partibus libratur” – Justice needs both sides, implying that judgments against power must be made with context.
- “Tempus ipsum recipit diem” – Time delivers its own judgment, subtly invoking the inevitability of reversal in fortune.
- Historical Embedding:
- The Napoleon quote reframes the fable into geopolitical lessons on discipline, governance, and optics in leadership.
- Churchill’s fate is another teaching moment: leadership may be momentarily perfect, yet unfit for the evolving needs of peace—an ephemeral virtue.
- Zegarelli’s Signature Integration – He fuses Aesop’s moral with legal/political principles and ancient aphorisms, reinforcing:
- Power is not its own justification.
- Ruling must account for long-term resentment, not just short-term compliance.
This fusion of fable + legal philosophy + strategic history constitutes a unique Zegarelli pedagogy: teaching through analogical compound reasoning.
III. Conclusion (Philosophical and Practical Insights)
Key Lessons:
- Constraint breeds resentment – Even if power is just, those constrained will remember the sting more than the fairness.
- Governance is harder than conquest – Subjugation breeds latent vengeance. The Lion may have “ruled,” but ruling is not the same as being beloved.
- Perceived justice changes with vulnerability – What once appeared “order” becomes “oppression” when the orderer falls.
- Prepare for the fall – Zegarelli teaches that leadership must sow grace and restraint during power, or risk disgrace when power wanes.
- No immunity in righteousness alone – Even “good Lions” will face the kicks of former subordinates if they failed to earn affection, not just obedience.
Zegarelli’s Broader Thematic Connection
This article ties into several recurring Zegarelli themes:
- Leadership and Humility (as in GRZ128 Dealing in Hope)
- Revenge as latent instinct (see GRZ98_46 The Wolf and the Shepherd)
- Brand collapse post-utility (like Churchill’s dismissal or the quote from Gracián: “The orange already squeezed turns to mud”)
Ultimately, the fable doesn’t vindicate the animals or the Lion, but warns the reader:
To govern is not merely to constrain, but to understand that time eventually liberates the constrained—and with it, their judgment.
This is a sobering call to anyone in power—political, corporate, or personal—to consider how their legacy will be interpreted not when they are strong, but when they are vulnerable.
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© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/patience-comeuppance-55-dying-lion-essential-aesop-zegarelli-esq-
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