μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Useful wins contest over beautiful.

The wise and the foolish. · Wise and unwise conduct. · Choices. · Real and apparent values. · Choice between useful and ornamental. · view the constellation · filed as J242

Within the index

Filed under Choice between useful and ornamental.

8 finer motifs beneath it
Contest between rose and amaranth: worth lies not in beauty Pine and thornbush dispute as to their usefulness. Beauty of form does not give worth; pine grows slowly but it will withstand storms Fox and panther contest in beauty. Fox's spirit worth more than panther's skin Peacock proved to be bad king. Chosen because of beauty; too weak to defend his flock Peacock and crane in beauty contest. Better be able to soar like crane than to strut about like peacock Contest in beauty between swallows and crows (ants and flies): worth lies not in beauty Choice of a learned crow: a dead cat better than a golden crown In dividing property clever younger brother takes hind part of buffalo, upper part of tree, and use of curtain during night
Filed beside it
Fruitful tree chosen Usefulness better than speed Goodness preferred to beauty Useful and ugly preferred to expensive and beautiful Strength preferred to cleverness Goodness preferred to wealth Practical knowledge more vital than theoretical Learned person worth two unlearned. Latter wastes time, former not

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