Search
Motifs
- Laughing fish reveals unjust judgment. A severe judgment is rendered for a small offence. As the convicted man is being led away, a dead (dried) fish is heard to laugh. The fish reveals that he has laughed at the foolishness of the judge who, while he punishes minor offences severely, is unable to see the capital crimes in his own household. (Cf. D1281.) D1318.2.1
- Boy saves life by showing father foolishness of plowing up his crop. Father has been persuaded to kill child. J92
- Wisdom from continual reminder of foolishness in the past. Unjust judge skinned and his skin stretched over a footstool kept in the presence of judges, so as to remind them to be just. J167
- Noblemen who quarreled over a device. Wiser of the two shows foolishness of such a fight. J552.1
- Foolishness of noise-making when enemies overhear. J581
- Foolishness of premature coming out of hiding. J582
- Foolishness of surrendering weapons. J642
- Foolishness of king's taking a washerman for chief minister; washerman makes no preparation for war and kingdom is conquered. [Inadvertant duplication of U129.3.] J677
- Foolishness of alliances with the weak. J682
- Foolishness of attacking real allies. J683
- Foolishness of taking on too strong a partner: crow crowds sparrow out of its nest. J684.2
- How he shall be mourned. Women insist on knowing how a man wants to be mourned when he dies. "Mourn me as a man who was tormented by women talking foolishness." J1301
- A wise man follows a fool against his better judgment. Both are put to death for their foolishness. J1714.1
- Which way the sheep shall return. One man plans to buy sheep; another says that he shall not drive them across the bridge. They quarrel over the sheep, which have not yet been acquired. A third numskull to convince them of their foolishness pours all his meal out in the water so as to show them the empty sack. "How much meal is in the sack?" he asks. "None." "There is just that much wit in your heads." J2062.1
- The three teachings of the bird (fox). In return for release from captivity the bird (fox) gives the man three teachings. These usually mock the man for his foolishness in releasing what he has. (See for these counsels: J21.12, J21.13, J21.14.) K604
- Foolishness brings a man to death, quiet calm to fortune. Q6.1