# Mercury and the Tradesmen explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

Jupiter instructs Mercury to infuse lies into the tradesmen during their creation. Mercury distributes the infusion equally among all tradesmen, but when he reaches the horse-dealer last, he pours all the remaining lies into him, explaining why all tradesmen lie, but horse-dealers lie the most.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cunning and Deception

The entire fable centers on the deliberate infusion of lies into tradesmen, highlighting deception as an inherent trait.

### Human Nature and Vice

The story comments on the universal human vice of lying, especially among those in trade, with a pointed critique of horse-dealers.

## Character check-ins

### Jupiter

Commands Mercury to infuse lies into the tradesmen during creation.

### Mercury

Carries out Jupiter's order, distributing lies to the tradesmen and giving the horse-dealer the largest share.

## Key lines

> When Jupiter was creating man, he told Mercury to make an infusion of lies, and to add a little of it to the other ingredients which went to the making of the Tradesmen.

During the creation of humans, Jupiter ordered Mercury to prepare a mixture of lies and blend it into the materials used to form tradesmen.

_Sets up the mythological origin of dishonesty among tradespeople._

> This is why all Tradesmen lie more or less, but they none of them lie like a horse-dealer.

This explains why every tradesman is somewhat dishonest, but horse-dealers are the worst liars of all.

_Delivers the moral punchline, emphasizing the exaggerated dishonesty of horse-dealers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/mercury-and-the-tradesmen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters