The Fox and the Bust book cover

The Fox and the Bust

"The Fox and the Bust" is a fable written by Jean de La Fontaine. This short tale tells the story of a fox who comes across a bust, an impressive piece of art. The fox praises the bust for its physical appearance, but criticizes it for its lack of mental prowess. Through this allegory, La Fontaine imparts a valuable lesson - physical beauty is not an accurate measure of one's intelligence or worthiness.

Genre: Fable
Year:
1668
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The great too often wear the actor's mask; The vulgar worshippers the show beguiles; The ass looks on the surface; 'tis the task Of the wise Fox to go far deeper; full of wiles, He pries on every side, and turns, and peeps, And watches--Reynard never sleeps. And when he finds in many a place The great man nothing but a pompous face, Repeats, what once he subtly said Unto a hero's plaster head--- A hollow bust, and of enormous size-- Praising it with contemptuous eyes, "Fine head," said he, "but without brains." The saving's worth the listener's pains; To many a noble lord the mot applies.
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Jean de La Fontaine

Jean de La Fontaine was a renowned French fabulist and one of the most famous poets during the French classical period. He was born on July 8, 1621, and died on April 13, 1695. Known for his literary style, he is best known for his "Fables", which are considered classics of French literature. His works were marked by his sophisticated style and moral substance, and his fables provided a scathing critique of French society during his time. more…

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