“better” — Mythoi

Motifs — first 20 of 58

Why black bears are better eating than grizzly bears. A2511.1
King: What is your father doing? Youth: Makes better from good. (Hedges his field.) H583.2.3
Riddle: two are better than three (two legs better than man with staff in old age). H761.1
Man gives all his wealth away, for it is better to die than to give up virtue. J211.1.1
Better send an ugly woman to the devil than a pretty one. Man chooses ugly mistress. J229.4
The smaller the evil the better. Therefore choose the smallest woman possible for a bride. J229.10
Peacock and crane in beauty contest. Better be able to soar like crane than to strut about like peacock. J242.5
Choice of a learned crow: a dead cat better than a golden crown. J242.7
Usefulness better than speed. J243
Millstone preferred to jewels. Man shown jewels that cost much money; he replies that he has better stones (millstones) that earn that much. J245.1
Do not ask: "Why were the former days better than the present ones?" J311.2
Better be content with what you have, than try to get more and lose everything. J346
Unnecessary choice of gods. King's sons each choose a god: Jupiter for power, Saturn for wisdom, etc. Father says that a god of all combined would be better. J462.1
Better to marry ugly than fair wife. Less hard to satisfy. J482.2
Better to marry a man lacking money than money lacking a man. J482.2.1
[First Edition (Additions and Corrections): J492. Better be consul in Rome than king elsewhere.] J492[1st ed.]
Thornbush blamed by fox for wounding him. He should have known better than to lay hold of something whose nature is to lay hold of others. J656.1
"Better a live confessor than a dead martyr." So answers a preacher when asked whether he preferred to stay at home and confess his flock or go to war against the infidels. J1261.9
Tailor caught resting his head on royal robe while he rests tells king there is no better resting place for king's robe, for "the head is the king of the body." J1289.19
Should have brought him drink. Drunkard's wife takes him when he is drunk to a tomb and, masking as a ghost brings him food. "If you had known me better you would have brought me drink." J1323

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Tale types