Jataka Jackal Crow Flattery

tale:jataka_jackal_crow_flattery

A jackal beneath a rose-apple tree praises a crow feasting above as sweet-voiced and noble, that the crow may shower him with fruit; the crow, flattered, calls the jackal the finest of beasts, and down come the rose-apples. A passing sage observes that liar praises liar — two frauds trading hollow compliments. Moral: where flatterer flatters flatterer, only fraud is fed. — Jataka tale