This saying illustrates a profound truth about life and power dynamics. It highlights how circumstances can shift, reducing even the mightiest individuals to a vulnerable state where they may be disrespected or mistreated by those far inferior to them.
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| Jackass and Sick lion/thomasnast.com |
Above image: A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion” “And Such a Lion! and Such a Jackass!” Harper’s Weekly cartoonist Thomas Nast publishes a cartoon which popularizes the Jackass as the symbol for the Democrat party. https://thomasnast.com/cartoons/the-democratic-donke.............
It serves as a reminder of life's impermanence, where strength and dominance are transient. The courageous lion or elephant, symbols of power and majesty, represent individuals or entities that once commanded respect and fear. However, sickness or aging — inevitable phases of life — diminish their glory. The "jackass," symbolizing opportunistic and insignificant beings, takes advantage of the fallen state, reveling in their momentary ascendancy.
The message is twofold:
- It cautions against arrogance during times of strength, as no position is permanent.
- It also underscores the unseemly nature of opportunism, reminding us that true character is revealed in how we treat the vulnerable.
This reflection encourages empathy, humility, and dignity in both triumph and adversity.
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