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Motifs — first 20 of 60
- First man created from nothing wanders until he finds mate. A1275.7
- Life in land of dead contrary to ours. People grow younger and smaller till they become nothing and are reborn. E489.2
- Extraordinary strength from fasting for 12 years and eating nothing except earth. F611.3.0.1
- River whose specific gravity is so slight nothing can float on it. (Cf. F716.2.) F715.10
- Task: going to get nothing and bringing it back. H1045.1
- "Nothing happens that does not work for one's good": counsel proved wise is experience. J21.52.8
- Hobson's choice: choose what is put before you or nothing. J201
- Kite tries to neigh like a horse. Loses his voice and gains nothing. J512.2
- Greedy man dissatisfied with gold looks for jewels; finds only iron and eventually nothing. J514.5
- Fool given the truth on his back. He tells his master what the servants have done during his absence. The servants whip him on his bare back, saying at each blow, "That is the truth." When the master returns and tells the fool to tell the truth, the latter replies, "There is nothing worse on earth than the truth." J551.2
- Doctor loses a horse for the sake of the truth. Overlord asks two doctors whether he is entitled to all the possessions of his retainers. One doctor unrighteously answers yes and receives a horse. The other who tells the truth receives nothing. J551.3
- Improvident mouse eats grain stored for famine. Loss is discovered and grain placed elsewhere. Mouse, who has saved nothing, starves. J711.2
- Witness cannot speak language of accusation: discredited. Two parrots taught accusation of mistress in a particular dialect. They know nothing more of the language. (Cf. G1154.1.) J1152
- King cannot destroy the city. A philosopher of the city came to him asking mercy for it King said he would do nothing he asked. Philosopher then asked him to destroy the city. This saves the city. J1289.10
- King to smoker: "Even donkeys will have nothing to do with tobacco." Smoker: "Donkeys don't know how to enjoy themselves." J1289.20
- Persistent beggar invited upstairs. A beggar will not come in but insists on the man coming down to the door. When he asks alms the man bids him come upstairs. Then he says he has nothing for him. "You made me come down for nothing; I make you come up for nothing." J1331
- Asking costs nothing. So says beggar who asks goldsmith to plate his club with gold. J1338
- Robbers commiserated. A buffoon says to robbers in his house, "You can't find anything here in the dark, for I can find nothing in broad daylight." J1392.2
- Owner laughs at thief who finds nothing in house. J1392.4
- The cost price recovered. A man takes a shirt to market for a friend who has stolen it. At market it is stolen from the seller. He tells his friend that the market was bad and that he was able to get back only the cost price (nothing). J1397
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