Aren't phrases like "a wolf in sheep's clothing" or "hanging a sheep's head sign and selling dogmeat" (i.e. doing evil under a grand-sounding name) just a covert acknowledgement that sheep have a lot going for them?
「虎質羊皮」、「掛羊頭賣狗肉」，不正是人們隱隱然為羊打抱不平的投射？