Fools take to themselves the respect that is given to their office

Fools take to themselves the respect that is given to their office

In the fables of Aesop, the theme of arrogance and self-importance is a common thread that runs through many of his stories. One such tale that exemplifies this theme is the story of "The Ass in the Lion's Skin." In this fable, an ass finds a lion's skin and decides to put it on to scare the other animals in the forest. The ass struts around, thinking he is now a fearsome lion, and demands respect from all the other animals. However, his braying gives him away, and the other animals quickly realize that he is just an ass pretending to be something he is not.

This fable serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pretending to be something you are not and trying to take on a false sense of importance. The ass in the story takes on the respect that is given to the lion simply by wearing its skin, but he is ultimately exposed as a fraud. This is a clear example of how fools often try to elevate themselves by taking on the trappings of a higher office or position, but their true nature will always be revealed in the end.

Another fable by Aesop that explores this theme is "The Fox and the Stork." In this story, the fox invites the stork over for dinner but serves the food in shallow dishes that the stork cannot eat from. The fox gloats over his cleverness, thinking he has outsmarted the stork. However, when the stork invites the fox over for dinner and serves the food in tall, narrow-necked jars that only the stork can reach into, the fox realizes his mistake. The stork takes to himself the respect that is given to his office as a clever and cunning animal, while the fox is left feeling foolish and humiliated.

Overall, Aesop's fables serve as timeless lessons about the dangers of arrogance and self-importance. Fools who try to take on the respect that is given to their office without earning it through their actions will always be exposed in the end. It is a reminder to always stay true to oneself and not to try to be something one is not.