Critics are like fables by Aesop

As I read the reviews I have gotten about Time Pullers, I am reminded of an Aesop’s fable about a man, a boy, and a donkey.  The man and boy were leading the donkey to market to sell, and some people they passed on the way criticized them for that. “Why lead the donkey when the boy could be riding him,” they chided.

So, they continued on with the boy riding the donkey, until another group of people also criticized them. “Look at that lazy boy riding the donkey, making his father walk!” they scolded. So, the man and boy switched places.

Later, another group also criticized, saying the donkey was big enough to carry both. So they tried that for a time, until the animal-rights people heaped shame upon them for abusing the donkey.

Their solution was to carry the donkey by tying his legs to a pole that they rested on their shoulders. When they came to a bridge, however, the donkey became afraid and kicked and brayed until he ended up falling over the side. With only one leg free, and the rest tied to the pole, the donkey could not swim, and he drowned.

The moral of this story is rather obvious: You can’t please all the people all the time.

This entry was posted in Books, Reading, & Writing. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply