Zenobius 5.42

He told a tale to an ass; and the ass wagged his ears

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English

Proverb

Explanation

the proverb is said of insensitivity in either direction. For the creature is sluggish at his work, and waggles his ears as if he had heard everything before anyone has spoken — which itself is a sign of stupidity. For how could one know things not even spoken to him, even if he had ears as large as an ass's?

Greek

Proverb

Ὄνῳ τὶς ἔλεγε μῦθον· ὁ δὲ τὰ ὦτα ἐκίνει

Explanation

εἰς ἀναισθησίαν τινῶν ἡ παροιμία εἴρηται κατ’ ἀμφότερα. Τό τε γὰρ ζῶον νωχελὲς ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὰ ὦτα κινεῖ, οἱονεὶ πρὸ τοῦ τινα λαλῆσαι πάντα ἀκήκοεν· ὅπερ ἐστὶ καὶ αὐτὸ ἀναισθησίας. Πῶς γὰρ ἂν δύναιτό τις ἐγνωκέναι τὰ μὴ λαληθέντα αὐτῷ, κἂν ἆτα μεγάλα ὥσπερ ὄνος ἔχῃ;

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:5.42