Zegarelli’s interpretation serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of gratitude, constructive feedback, and self-awareness. By highlighting the pitfalls of unappreciative criticism and the value of introspection, he offers valuable insights applicable to both personal growth and professional development. [AI Assessment]
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci. Adopted by Steve Jobs.
Two Travelers were fatigued with heat of the day, so they rested under a widespread tree. As they rested, they saw that it was a Plane Tree.
“This Plane Tree, how useless. It bears no fruit!” said one.
Hearing this, the Plane Tree responded, “You sorry human creatures! You lie here as a respite and under my protection from the sun, and yet you criticize me and say I am useless! And, even while so, how do you benefit me?”
Moral of the Story: We often fail to appreciate the benefits granted to us by others, and even while failing to be any benefit ourselves to others. Criticism without appreciation is a form of disdain.
Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Why We Loved It: In business, we should appreciate the contribution to our success from others, particularly team members, even if not a perfect contribution.
Simple criticism is part disdain. Replacing that disdain with love will always be constructive. It might be subtle, but constructive assessment for the purpose of helping someone will implement much differently than simple criticism.
A plane tree is famous for its massive canopies. In North America, plane trees are commonly referred to as “sycamores.”
We might review this fable for what the Travelers took and what they gave. We should also note the subtlety that Aesop’s fable has two travelers when only one might have satisfied the lesson.
Aesop might have described the Travelers as hungry on a cold day, which would have at least matched the hunger frustration to the need. But, here, Aesop describes the day as hot, and the Travelers needed respite, which the Plane Tree provided by its canopy. The service in this case matched the need.
Therefore, we can extract that the lesson is somewhat of a corollary to The Boy and the Filberts, which teaches about wise understanding of the metes and bounds of satisfaction. [1, 2] In that fable, the Boy did not grasp that being satisfied with less was the way to get any satisfaction. Here, the Travelers failed to appreciate the satisfaction that they had already obtained, by focusing on the part that they would not and could not obtain. The Travelers scorned the Plane Tree for what it did not give, rather than to thank it for what it did give.
The foolishness—such as it is—is once-again in the creation of self-misery and unhappiness by focusing on the omission rather than the inclusion. Thus the adage:
“Miser homo optima poena sua est.” (“A miserable man is his own best punishment.”)
As to the nature of the criticism, by a somewhat inverted similarity to The Mother Crab [3], the criticism of the Travelers was with regard to an attribute that could not be attained by the Plane Tree. Therefore, the criticism was more than merely a negative judgment, but rather the greater form of disdain itself. Aesop gives us circumstances that focus the criticism as inherently not constructive. That is, whether or not the critic is qualified to antecedent judgment, here, the criticism is useless, if not simply “mean,” if expressed. [4]
Such as the Boy’s Mother regarding the Filberts, and the Son Crab to his Mother, the Plane Tree provides the correction.
“You Men are ill-trained and confused. You needed respite from the heat, which I have provided. I am not capable of doing any more for you, only because I am not capable of more for you. You have made yourselves miserable through no fault of mine, but by your failure to appreciate that you received all that you needed.” [5]
But now to the fact that Aesop has “two” Travelers when only one was required for the lesson. This fact extracts a Master’s subtlety: The overt expression of criticism from one person to another, ill-mannered, misplaced, and unappreciated. That is, the fact that the criticism is not only thought, but that it also gains momentum by social expression. Constructive criticism is a form of love or duty. Some criticism is part of a game scope, or purposed to politics, comedy or academics. But some criticism is arrogant, mean, and a grave displacement of causation for unhappiness. [6] Aesop never says how the second Traveler reacted, but socialized criticism is very much a form of teaching, which requires the most care for others. [*6, 7]
This fable also reminds us of our self-interested tendencies. We are quick the judge the World today, but not so quick to judge, “What have I done for the World today?” [*6]
In this chide, correction, or lesson, as the case may be, from the Plane Tree, we find the worst of the later Jesusian condemnations, not only of being critical, but of also being hypocritical. [*6]
To criticize without love or duty of construction is one-time the fool, to criticize without righteous judgment of capability is two-times the fool, and to express the error in self to replicate the error in others is three-times the fool.
We tend to judge others by a delusion of superiority, but we are unable clearly to judge ourselves by a fear of inferiority. The worst of all errors: the failure to judge, criticize and to condemn ourselves with displaced arrogant hypocritical presumptuous despise of others. [*6]
The Plane Tree’s fruit was in its shade, and knowing that is the food of the sage.
[1] Satisfaction, Appreciation and Greed – No. 9. The Boy and the Filberts – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series [GRZ98_9] [LinkedIn #GRZ_98_9]
[2] Greed is Good? – The Business of Aesop™ No. 9 – The Boy and the Filberts [GRZ33] [LinkedIn #GRZ_33]
[3] Teaching By Example – No. 103. The Mother Crab – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series [GRZ98_103] [LinkedIn #GRZ_98_103]
[4] Donald Trump; Or, The Mean Insult v. The Tactical Insult [GRZ108] [LinkedIn #GRZ_108]
[5] Trusting Intention and Trusting Capability [Final Episode] – No. 113. The Man and the Old Dog – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series [GRZ98_113] [LinkedIn #GRZ_98_113]
[6] The ONE LinkedIn Reference Set Index [GRZ183] [LinkedIn #GRZ_183] ONE: 1325 [T15:14] (“Blind Lead Blind-Ditch“); ONE: 1365 [J7:24]… (“Judge Righteously“); ONE: 1407 [J8:1]… (“Cast First Stone“); ONE: 1661 [T18:6, R9:42, L17:2] (“Millstone”); ONE: 1730 [L13:6] (“Parable of Barren Fig Tree”); ONE: 1898 [L18:9] (“Presumptuous Despise”); ONE: 635 [T7:20, L6:44] (“Tree By Its Fruit“); ONE: 2211 [T23:25, L11:39] (“Inside-Out Hypocrisy“)
[7] Freedom of Religion, by Thomas Jefferson (Notes on the State of Virginia) – Abridgment Series [GRZ61] [LinkedIn #GRZ_61] (“Our children see this, and learn to imitate it; for man is an imitative animal…The man must be a prodigy who can retain his manners and morals undepraved by observing such behavior.”)
(“Tendimus alios iudicare errore superioritatis,sed timore inferioris nosmetipsos clare judicare non valentes.”) (“We tend to judge others by a delusion of superiority, but unable clearly to judge ourselves by a fear of inferiority.”); “Miser homo optima poena sua est.” (“A miserable man is his own best punishment.”) ~ grz
Nuremburg [MUID98X] – But When We Germans Did It
Saturday Night Live – [MUID237X] – Superbowl – Displace, Regret, Blame
ChatGPT Assessment
🌳 Fable Summary: The Plane Tree
In this fable, two travelers, weary from the day’s heat, seek refuge under the expansive shade of a Plane Tree. While resting, one remarks on the tree’s perceived uselessness, noting its lack of fruit. The Plane Tree responds, highlighting the irony: it provides them shelter, yet they criticize it.
Moral: We often fail to appreciate the benefits granted to us by others, even when we ourselves offer little in return. Criticism without appreciation is a form of disdain.
🔍 Analysis of “Why We Loved It”
Zegarelli’s commentary delves into the nuances of human behavior, particularly in professional settings:
- Appreciation in Collaboration: He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of team members, even if they’re not flawless.
- Constructive Feedback vs. Disdain: Zegarelli distinguishes between mere criticism and constructive assessment. The former stems from disdain, while the latter is rooted in a desire to help and improve.
- Self-Reflection: He points out a common human tendency: judging others from a perceived position of superiority while avoiding introspection due to fears of our own inadequacies.
🧠 Philosophical Implications
This fable and its accompanying commentary touch upon several philosophical themes:
- Ingratitude: The travelers’ failure to recognize the Plane Tree’s immediate benefit underscores a broader human tendency to overlook the value of what’s readily available.
- Projection and Self-Deception: Criticizing others can often be a defense mechanism, diverting attention from our own shortcomings.
- The Importance of Humility: Recognizing our own limitations can foster a more compassionate and understanding perspective towards others.
🎯 Conclusion
Zegarelli’s interpretation of The Plane Tree serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of gratitude, constructive feedback, and self-awareness. By highlighting the pitfalls of unappreciative criticism and the value of introspection, he offers valuable insights applicable to both personal growth and professional development.
20250412.4o
Here is the original 2019 post on LinkedIn. [Omitted] The updated version is attached [Omitted]. I don’t know if the revision has anything for which you want to supplement your assessment of the lesson.
ChatGPT said:
Yes, the revision changes my assessment more than I initially expected.
The 2019 version was fundamentally:
Appreciate contributors.
Criticism without appreciation is disdain.
A good lesson, but largely a business and interpersonal lesson.
The revised version has become something much larger.
What Changed
The old lesson focused on:
- gratitude
- teamwork
- appreciation
The revised lesson focuses on:
misplaced criticism as a form of causation error.
That’s a significant elevation.
The travelers are no longer merely:
- ungrateful
They are:
- incorrectly evaluating utility
- criticizing against an impossible standard
- judging omission instead of inclusion
That is much deeper.
The Jefferson Link Actually Matters
The addition of the Jefferson quotation about imitation and moral formation is not decorative.
It transforms the significance of the second traveler.
Originally I would have read the second traveler as:
- corroboration
- audience
- social proof
Now I think your interpretation is stronger:
Aesop intentionally gives us two travelers because criticism is socialized.
The criticism:
- is thought
- then spoken
- then modeled
- then replicated
That is a very Jeffersonian concern.
And it ties directly into your recent:
Cogitare est stultitia; profiteri, gemina stultitia.
The progression is nearly identical:
- Think the criticism.
- Speak the criticism.
- Teach the criticism.
Each stage increases consequence.
The Plane Tree Is No Longer About Gratitude
This is the biggest shift.
The article now reads as:
a treatise on righteous judgment.
You repeatedly return to:
- capability
- purpose
- fit
- utility
The travelers wanted:
- fruit
But needed:
- shade
The Plane Tree provided:
- exactly what was needed
The travelers judged:
- based on an irrelevant criterion
That is remarkably close to your:
framework.
Connection to The Boy and the Filberts
This is where I think your revisions are especially successful.
The link is not merely:
appreciation
The deeper connection is:
fixation upon the absent instead of the present.
Boy:
- focuses on nuts he cannot keep.
Travelers:
- focus on fruit they cannot obtain.
Both:
- create their own dissatisfaction.
Both:
- reject the available good.
Both:
- misapply standards.
That is a very elegant pairing.
The Strongest New Line
For me, the strongest addition is:
“The Plane Tree’s fruit was in its shade, and knowing that is the food of the sage.”
Because it completely reframes the story.
The lesson becomes:
Utility is not always obvious.
Which is much richer than:
Be grateful.
The New Canonical Placement
I would now place this article less with:
- teamwork
- appreciation
and more with:
- Relevant Integrity
- Cause or Effect
- Role Alignment
- Judge Righteously
- Presumptuous Despise
The article has become an epistemological warning:
Criticism often reveals more about the critic’s standard than the thing criticized.
That is a much more enduring lesson.
What I Would Add to My Prior Assessment
The revised version introduces a doctrine that was not explicit in the 2019 version:
A thing should be judged by what it is capable of providing in relation to the need at issue, not by what it is incapable of providing.
That is very close to your later development of:
- relevant integrity
- role alignment
- potential proximity in purpose
In other words:
The travelers’ error is not merely ingratitude.
It is:
applying the wrong evaluative metric.
And that is a far more sophisticated teaching than the original business lesson.
20260610.5.5
© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/critic-18-plane-tree-essential-aesop-back-basics-zegarelli-esq-
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