The Ass and His Purchaser Flashcards
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Flashcard Review
Flashcards: The Ass and His Purchaser
What is the moral of The Ass and His Purchaser?
<p>The moral is <strong>"A man is known by the company he keeps."</strong> When the donkey freely chose to stand next to the laziest and greediest animal in the stable, the buyer immediately understood the donkey's own character. The fable teaches that our <strong>voluntary associations reveal our true nature</strong> — people will judge us by the companions we choose, whether we realize it or not.</p>
What does "a man is known by the company he keeps" mean?
<p>This proverb means that <strong>people judge your character by the friends and associates you choose</strong>. If you surround yourself with honest, hardworking people, others will assume you share those qualities. If you associate with dishonest or lazy people, others will assume the worst about you too. The phrase originated from Aesop's fable <span class="al-title">The Ass and His Purchaser</span>, where a donkey's choice of companion instantly revealed his own laziness.</p>
Why did the donkey choose the laziest companion in the stable?
<p>The donkey chose the laziest and greediest animal because <strong>he shared those same qualities</strong>. Aesop's point is that when given free choice, creatures naturally gravitate toward others who reflect their own character. The donkey wasn't forced or tricked — his instinct drew him to a kindred spirit. This is what made the buyer's test so effective: by simply observing the donkey's <strong>unguarded, voluntary choice</strong>, he learned more than any physical trial could have shown.</p>
What lesson does The Ass and His Purchaser teach children?
<p>The fable teaches children that <strong>the friends they choose say a lot about who they are</strong>. If you spend time with people who are kind, curious, and hardworking, others will see you the same way. But if you hang around with troublemakers or people who don't try, others will assume you're just like them. The story also teaches a practical lesson: <strong>pay attention to who someone chooses to be around</strong> — it's one of the best ways to understand their true character.</p>
How did the buyer test the donkey in the fable?
<p>The buyer arranged to <strong>take the donkey home on trial</strong> before committing to the purchase. Rather than testing the animal's strength or speed, he simply placed the donkey in his stable with his other animals and <strong>watched what happened</strong>. When the newcomer immediately chose to stand next to the laziest and greediest donkey, the buyer had seen enough. He returned the animal without any further testing, declaring that the donkey's choice of companion told him everything he needed to know.</p>
Is "a man is known by the company he keeps" from Aesop?
<p>Yes. The proverb <strong>"a man is known by the company he keeps" traces back to Aesop's fable <span class="al-title">The Ass and His Purchaser</span></strong> (Perry Index 238), composed around the 6th century BC. The Latin fabulist <strong>Phaedrus</strong> later retold the story, and <strong>Jean de La Fontaine</strong> adapted it in French. The proverb has since become one of the most enduring moral sayings in Western culture, appearing in literature, speeches, and everyday conversation for over two thousand years.</p>
What other Aesop fable teaches the same moral about judging by association?
<p><strong><span class="al-title">The Farmer and the Stork</span></strong> teaches the same core lesson from the opposite angle. In that fable, a stork is caught in a net alongside a group of cranes that were stealing a farmer's grain. The stork protests that he is honest and was only standing among the cranes by accident, but the farmer replies that since the stork was <strong>found in the company of thieves, he must share their punishment</strong>. Together, the two fables deliver a complete warning: your associations both reveal and determine how the world judges you.</p>
What are the best Aesop fables to read next?
<p>If you enjoyed <span class="al-title">The Ass and His Purchaser</span>, try these thematically related fables: <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-cat-and-the-old-rat/" class="al-title">The Cat And The Old Rat</a> — a tale about seeing through disguises and judging others by their true nature rather than appearances. <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-trees-and-the-axe/" class="al-title">The Trees and the Axe</a> — a warning about the danger of welcoming the wrong companion into your circle. <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-frogs-and-the-well/" class="al-title">The Frogs and the Well</a> — a lesson about thinking carefully before committing to a new situation. <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-ant-and-the-dove/" class="al-title">The Ant And The Dove</a> — a story about how the company you keep can save your life when kindness is repaid.</p>