WIST Quotations

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “Androcles” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 19:08:25 +0000

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “Androcles” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “Hercules and the Wagoner” (6th C BC)

Dave — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:30:16 +0000

The gods help them that help themselves.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “Hercules and the Wagoner” (6th C BC)

Another translation: "Heaven only aided those who endeavoured to help themselves. It is in vain to expect our prayers to be heard, if we do not strive as well as pray." [tr. James (1848)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Crow and the Pitcher” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 14:25:24 +0000

Little by little does the trick.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Crow and the Pitcher” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Another translation: "Skill and Patience will succeed where Force fails" [tr. James (1848)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Dog in the Manger” (6th C BC)

Dave — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:03:39 +0000

People often grudge others when they cannot enjoy themselves.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Dog in the Manger” (6th C BC)

Other translation: "See, what a miserable cur! who neither can eat corn himself, nor will allow those to eat in who can." [tr. James (1848)]

Other translation: "What a selfish Dog! He cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to allow those to eat who can." [tr. Townsend (1887)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Four Oxen and the Lion” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:06:12 +0000

United we stand, divided we fall.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Four Oxen and the Lion” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Another translation: "The quarrels of friends are the opportunities of foes." [tr. James (1848), "The Lion and the Bulls"]

Another translation: "Union is strength." [tr. Townsend (1887), "The Lion and the Three Bulls"]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Lion and the Mouse” (6th C BC)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Lion and the Mouse” (6th C BC)

Another translation: "Kindness is seldom thrown away" [tr. James (1848)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Lion and the Mouse” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 14:57:05 +0000

Little friends may prove great friends.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Lion and the Mouse” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Other translations:

"There is no creature so much below another but that he may have it in his power to return a good office." [tr. James (1848)]
"It is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion" [tr. Townsend (1887)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:07:22 +0000

Please all, and you will please none.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Another translation: "By endeavoring to please everybody he had pleased nobody." [tr. James (1848), "The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass"]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Old Man and Death” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:54:07 +0000

We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Old Man and Death” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Other translation: "It is one thing to call for Death, and another to see him coming." [tr. James (1848)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Swallow and the Other Birds” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 18:51:03 +0000

Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Swallow and the Other Birds” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:05:36 +0000

Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Other translations:

"The Difference betwixt a Court and a Country Life. The Delights, Innocence, and Security of the One, Compar'd with the Anxiety, the Lewdness, and the Hazards of the Other." [tr. L'Estrange (1692)]
"Give me my barley-bread in peace and security before the daintiest feast where Fear and Care are in waiting." [tr. James (1848)]
"A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety."

Compare to Proverbs 17:1 "Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife."

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Two Crabs” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:42:48 +0000

Example is the best precept.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Two Crabs” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Other translation: "Example is better than precept." [tr. James (1848), "The Crab and Her Mother"]
Townsend (1887), "The Crab and Its Mother"]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Wind and the Sun” (6th C BC) [tr. James (1848)]

Dave — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:09:54 +0000

Persuasion is better than force.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Wind and the Sun” (6th C BC) [tr. James (1848)]

Other translation: "Kindness effects more than Severity." [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Other translation: "Persuasion is often more effectual than force."

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Wolf and the Kid” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 16:00:32 +0000

It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Wolf and the Kid” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Another translation: "Time and place often give the advantage to the weak over the strong." [tr. Townsend (1887), "The Kid and the Wolf"]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Wolf and the Lamb” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Any excuse will serve a tyrant.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Wolf and the Lamb” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Other translations:

"'Tis an Easie Matter to find a Staff to Beat a Dog." [tr. L'Estrange (1692)]
"A tyrant never wants a plea." [tr. James (1848)]
"The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny." [tr. Townsend (1887)]

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Wolf in Sheep Clothing” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:06:54 +0000

Appearances are deceptive.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Wolf in Sheep Clothing” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Alternately, "Appearances often are deceiving." Versified by Gaius Julius Phaedrus, Fables bk. 4, as "Things are not always what they seem."

Note that there are two fables by this name. In this one, a wolf prospers by wearing a sheepskin he finds and drawing other sheep away to be eaten. In other versions, the wolf sneaks into the sheepfold wearing the skin, and then is killed and eaten by the farmer who wants sheep for dinner.