# Grief and His Due explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

When Jupiter assigns privileges to the gods, Grief arrives late and receives the tears shed for the dead as his due. The fable warns that excessive mourning invites further sorrow, as Grief delights in such tribute and will send more cause for tears.

## Themes in this chapter

### Justice and Consequence

Jupiter's allocation of tears to Grief reflects a cosmic justice where each god receives a due, but excessive mourning brings further sorrow.

### Human Nature and Vice

The fable explores the human tendency to mourn excessively, which Grief exploits, highlighting a vice of immoderate grief.

## Character check-ins

### Jupiter

Assigns privileges to the gods and grants Grief the tears for the dead.

## Key lines

> The more devoutly men render to him his due, the more lavish is he of that which he has to bestow.

The more people give in to grief, the more grief gives them reason to mourn.

_Illustrates the cyclical nature of grief and mourning._

> It is not well, therefore, to mourn long for the departed; else Grief, whose sole pleasure is in such mourning, will be quick to send fresh cause for tears.

Prolonged mourning is unwise because it invites further sorrow.

_Moral of the fable advising moderation in grief._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/grief-and-his-due
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters