μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Counsels proved wise by experience.

The wise and the foolish. · Acquisition and possession of wisdom (knowledge). · Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from experience. · view the constellation · filed as J21

Filed across the traditions
  • Icelandic *Boberg
  • Jewish *Neuman
  • India *Thompson-Balys.
  • general *Types 910A, 910B, 910C, 910D
  • general *Cosquin Études 85ff., 100ff.
Within the index

Filed under Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from experience.

52 finer motifs beneath it
"Consider the end": counsel proved wise by experience. Barber hired to cut king's throat sees on the bottom of the basin the words "Whatever you do, do wisely and think of the consequences." He drops the razor and confesses "Do not act when angry": counsel proved wise by experience. Man returns home and sees someone sleeping with his wife. Though he thinks it is a paramour, he restrains himself and finds that it is a newborn son "Do not go where an old man has a young wife": counsel proved wise by experience. Discovers a murder in an inn "Do not marry a girl from abroad": counsel proved wise by experience "Do not leave the highway": counsel proved wise by experience. Robbers encountered "Do not ask questions about extraordinary things": counsel proved wise by experience. Those who ask question killed "Do not cross a bridge without dismounting from your horse"; counsel proved wise by experience. Man breaks leg "Never wager more than a groat": counsel proved wise by experience. Man loses wife on wager "Do not visit your friends often": counsel proved wise by experience. At last the man is treated shamefully "Do not lend out your horse": counsel proved wise by experience "Do not walk half a mile with a man without asking his name": counsel proved wise by experience. Man runs race unwittingly with his wife's paramour and loses his wife on the wager. (Cf. J21.8.) "Rue not a thing that is past": counsel proved wise by experience. Man lets bird go and then, having listened to bird's false declaration that she had a precious gem in her body, he tries to climb a tree after her and falls "Never believe what is beyond belief": counsel proved wise by experience. Man believes when bird tells him that she has a precious gem in her body. (Cf. J21.12, K604.) "Never try to reach the unattainable": counsel proved wise by experience. (Cf. K604.) "If you wish to hang yourself, do so by the stone which I point out": counsel proved wise by experience. Father has left money which will fall out when the spendthrift son goes to hang himself in despair. "The Heir of Linne." "Go to Goosebridge": counsel proved wise by experience. Man with disobedient wife finds mules beaten there and made to cross bridge "Stay at church till mass is finished": counsel proved wise by experience. Delay saves youth from death "Do not trust the over-holy": counsel proved wise by experience. Wife so modest she will not travel with husband (adulteress); priest so pious he will not tread on worm (thief) "Start your journey early in the day": counsel proved wise by experience "Prepare for night camp while it is still day": counsel proved wise by experience "Do not cross a swollen stream until it has run down": counsel proved wise by experience "Do not tell a secret to a woman": counsel proved wise by experience "Rise earlier": counsel proved wise by experience. Man seeking explanation for being in debt arises earlier and catches his servants stealing. (Cf. H588.1.) "Do not make a horse run down hill": counsel proved wise by experience. Horse breaks its neck +28 more
Filed beside it
Shipwrecked shepherd distrusts the sea. He had formerly envied sailors Young ass avoids food eaten by animals before being slaughtered. Runs to his mother and asks to have all remains of the hog's food taken out Young sparrows have learned to avoid men. Sparrow quizzes his four young as to how to avoid danger from men. Their year of experience has taught them enough Old racehorse in mill laments vanity of youth Serpent (bird) having injured man refuses reconciliation. He knows that neither can forget their injuries Dove disregards experience and loses brood. Rebuilds her nest in the place where she has lost former brood Animal learns through experience to fear men. In spite of the warning of another animal he approaches man and is shot Wisdom acquired from beating. Incognito prince, beaten for his courtesy, realizes his folly and returns home Precepts of the lion to his sons. Only the younger keeps them and is successful Merchants try honesty for a year and find that it pays. So advised by priest when they said that they could not do business without dishonesty Fools learn to be peaceable. Two fools in the habit of striking people are brought together when they strike each other until they appreciate the value of peace Why great man plays with children. This is to be learned only when one has children himself. Anecdote of Agesilaus Enemies can be won more by kindness than cruelty. Romans learn this by experience Man learns the fear of Death by meeting Life. Life (old woman) beheads him and replaces his head backwards. Simpleton left in fear for hours before head is readjusted
Carried in tale types

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