aesop's fables

"❁ the shoemaker

a shoemaker unable to make a living by his trade
and made desperate by poverty,
began to practice medicine in a town
in which he was not known.
he sold a medicine,
pretending that it was an antidote to all poisons,
and in turn obtained great reputation
for himself
by making long advertisements and sales pitches.

when the shoemaker happened to fall
grievingly ill himself,
the leader of the village thought up a plan
to test the truthfulness of the shoemaker's product.
for this purpose he filled a cup with water
and pretended to mix poison with the shoemaker's antidote,
commanding him to drink it for a large reward.
the shoemaker, under the fear of death,
confessed that he had no knowledge of medicine,
and was only made famous
by the stupid clamors of the crowd.

the village leader then called a public assembly and addressed the citizens.
"of what senselessness have you been guilty?
"you have entrusted your own heads
to a man who could not even make
the shoes for your feet."

know who your trust lies in.