Leading from the Middle

Caption: Soviet Postcard (1956) for Krylov fable.

“’HOW proudly and sonorously you sing, my dear
Cock!’
‘But you, dear Cuckoo, my light, how smoothly flows
your long-drawn-out note! There is no such singer in all
the rest of our forest.’
‘To you, my dear gossip, I could listen for ever.’
‘And as for you, my beauty, I swear that, when you are
silent, I scarcely know how to wait till you begin again.
Where do you get such a voice from? so clear, so soft, and
so high ! But no doubt you were always like that; not
very large in stature, but in song a regular nightingale.’
‘Thanks, gossip. As for you, I declare, on my conscience,
you sing better than the birds in the garden of Eden. For
a proof of this, I appeal to public opinion.’
At this moment a Sparrow, which had overheard their
conversation, said to them,
‘You may go on praising one another till you are hoarse,
my friends; but your music is utterly worthless.’

Why was it that, not being afraid to sin, the Cuckoo
praised the Cock? Simply because the Cock praised the
Cuckoo.”
_______________
Beware the Mutual Admiration Society. Avoid its close cousin, Group-Think.
Similarly, associate not with those who despise each other, who have no respect for nor can hear what the other is saying; they only hear themselves.
And, always, protect the Sparrow, the endangered Speaker of Truth.

*Source: Krilof and his fables, by Krylov, Ivan Andreevich, 1768-1844; Ralston, William Ralston Shedden, 1828-1889. Tr. London, 1869
https://archive.org/stream/krilofhisfables00kryl/krilofhisfables00kryl_djvu.txt

N.B. My next book, Fables for Leaders, Ezis Press, comes out in September 2017 as an e-book ($8.99) and a soft cover print-on-demand book, ($26.99). The print book, pictured, will feature original illustrations by the renowned Béatrice Coron.


Cover: "Fables for Leaders" PRE-PRINT, 203pp. 2017.

© Copyright John Lubans 2017

 

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