“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Adopted by Steve Jobs)
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An Eagle flew down and seized a Lamb, carrying him away in his talons. A crow-sized Jackdaw witnessed the event and was stirred with envy.
He determined to do the same, so he swept down upon a large Sheep, with the intention of carrying it off. But, alas, Jackdaws lack the power of Eagles, so his claws only became entangled in the fleece.
A nearby Shepherd ran up, captured the Jackdaw, clipped his wings, and gave him to his children as a fine pet in a cage.
Moral of the Story: Irrational ambition takes us to danger, beyond the limits of our capabilities. To know our limits is to know our strengths.
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Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Related Articles: The Distinguished Napoleon – The Business of Aesop™ No. 2 – The Frog and the Ox; Self-Validation and Envy – No. 2. The Frog and the Ox – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series; Know Thyself First, Then Context – No. 56. The Ass and the Lapdog – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series; Hiring on Hope – The Business of Aesop™ No. 90 – The Cat-Maiden; Our Core Nature Persists – No. 90. The Cat Maiden – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series
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Why We Loved It: A common theme for Aesop is that we stay rational, which is the foundation of wisdom.
That is, that we stay rational to what actually is, and rational to what has the potential to become. And, within this framework, assessing the natural tendencies of things that create the probability of what will remain in the future and what will change in the future.
Moreover, to self-reflect and to understand our causation for change; that is, what is the causal motivation for change and whether it is sourced to virtue or vice. [1]
Delusion strikes us all, sometimes in the form of the emotion of hope, for better or worse. We hope that we are, and we hope that we can become.
But, Aesop reminds us again, as he did with the Envious Frog [2], to stay rational to “know thyself,” as Socrates would say later.
Aesop suggests a common flaw in our self-assessment; that is, to know only our strengths. It is easy and feels good to compliment ourselves, not so good in the moment to criticize ourselves.
But, to know our limitations—indeed to know our faults—to have that clarity of reality, is a strength, because it is the basis for our ability to know what we can do and what we might change. Some people are great starters and some people are great finishers.
Clarity of self is a virtue that will pay off, in time, for someone.
Here, the Jackdaw was not satisfied with his own framework of existence, and so he became irrationally envious and tried to be something other than himself. Aesop’s Eagle is naturally powerful, and, here, seizes the Lamb without ado. Aesop’s Jackdaw is even smaller than a raven or crow. Thusly, Aesop’s Jackdaw is deluded as to his own capability, to think himself capable. Even more, the deluded envious Jackdaw went for a “large Sheep.” Entangling himself with more than he was capable to manage, to his demise. Unchecked desire is like a vacuum that is too strong for its intended container. Foolish Jackdaw.
In the fable of The Frog and the Ox [*2], Aesop teaches that we cannot be something that we are not, by specie or nature. Here, the lesson is more subtle and granular, the lesson here teaches that we cannot exceed our rational capacity. In both fables, Aesop teaches about self-destruction by the causal motivation of the vice of envy. [3]
Mark it: Envy is a vicious path to self-destruction, because envy has in it an element of hate. Admiration is a virtuous path to excellence, because admiration has in it an element of love. One tends to weaken and one tends to strengthen.
The failure of wisdom, temperance, and harmony wreaked their havoc on the Jackdaw. Sometimes less is more. “Discretion is the better part of valor,” said Shakespeare’s Falstaff. It is wise to work within the space of our capacity. It is foolish to try to work outside of the space our capacity.
Wisdom is to know the limits of our strength.
“To each, the dignity that befits him. Not everyone is a king, but your deeds should be worthy of one, within the limits of your class and condition. A regal way of doing things. Sublimity of action, a lofty mind. You should resemble a king in merit, if not in reality, for true sovereignty lies in integrity. You won’t envy greatness if you yourself can be a norm of greatness.“ ~Baltasar Gracian. The Art of Worldly Wisdom.
“Know thyself.“ ~Socrates
“This above all: To thine own self be true.“ ~William Shakespeare, Hamlet
“A man that hath no virtue in himself ever envies virtue in others. For men’s minds will either feed upon their own good or upon others’ evil; and who wants the one will prey upon the other; and whoso is out of hope to attain to another’s virtue will seek to come at even hand by depressing another’s fortune…
Envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man’s self, and where there is no comparison, no envy; and therefore kings are not envied but by kings. [Envy] is also the vilest affection, and the most depraved, for which cause it is the proper attribute of the devil, who is called the envious man, that sows weeds amongst the wheat by night; as it always comes to pass that envy works subtly and in the dark, and to the prejudice of good things, such as is the wheat.“ ~Francis Bacon. The Essays, On Envy.
“Compare not, unless against the measure of your own potential.“ ~grz
“Non comparare nisi comparet ad propria potentia.” (“Compare not, unless against the measure of your own potential.”) ~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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