The donkey eating figs

Shawn March 12, 2019 at 20:35 5900 views 6 comments

Chrysippus of Soli is said to have written 700 works, mostly lost throughout the ages. He is sometimes remembered for passing away in a fit of laughter over-seeing a donkey eating figs. The sight of donkey eating figs was so delightful to the Stoic philosopher that he exclaimed that one should give the donkey some wine to wash down the figs, upon which, he laughed until he died.

There is something very memorable and comedic about this story. I can't quite put my finger on what can be gleaned from the moral of this story... Perhaps, that life has its own way of finishing a story or ending one's journey that one would have not had anticipated. Or some other moral can be gleaned from this story.

Thoughts?

Comments (6)

Deleteduserrc March 12, 2019 at 20:43 #263914 0 likes

This is genuinely hilarious, unlike most ancient jokes. It's like the opposite of Nietzsche going crazy with sorrow after seeing a horse getting beat. It's a much better story.

Deleteduserrc March 12, 2019 at 20:48 #263916 0 likes

I think it works better if you don't try to glean a moral from it. It's just a really funny way to die.

Shawn March 12, 2019 at 20:51 #263918 0 likes

Reply to csalisbury

Quite so.

Sir2u March 13, 2019 at 01:58 #264071 0 likes

Quoting Wallows

the moral of this story

Keep on laughing so that you can die happy.

Shawn March 13, 2019 at 03:27 #264122 0 likes

Reply to Sir2u

Yes, the donkey could have cared less.

S March 18, 2019 at 04:51 #265966 0 likes

Quoting csalisbury

This is genuinely hilarious, unlike most ancient jokes. It's like the opposite of Nietzsche going crazy with sorrow after seeing a horse getting beat. It's a much better story.

Imagine if the horse was being beaten, and then Nietzsche stepped in and objected, and then out of nowhere, an old man threw some figs in Nietzsche's face.

Hahahahaha-- :death: