An ass1 once carried through the streets of a city a famous woodenimage, to be placed in one of its temples. As he passed along,the crowd made lowly prostration2 before the image. The ass,thinking that they bowed their heads in token of respect forhimself, bristled3 up with pride, gave himself airs, and refusedto move another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid hiswhip lustily about his shoulders and said, "O you perversedull-head! it is not yet come to this, that men pay worship to anass." 
They are not wise who give to themselves the credit due toothers. 