Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

boastful comparison overturned by events

boastful_comparison_overturned_by_events

A motif of the Pride, Hubris, and Downfall family, within the sub-family Comparative Boasts and Humbling. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


greek

  • Aesop's Fables; a new translation THE THIEF AND THE INNKEEPER / THE PACK-ASS AND THE WILD ASS / THE ASS AND HIS MASTERS / THE PACK-ASS, THE WILD ASS, AND THE LION; lines 4041-4057 confidence: medium

    The Wild Ass taunts the Pack-Ass, claiming freedom, no work, and abundant fodder in the hills, while saying the Pack-Ass depends on a master, carries heavy loads, and is beaten.

    The Wild Ass mocks the Pack-Ass’s condition, but the subsequent attack reverses the implied superiority of the Wild Ass’s situation.

    read in the book