# The Ass and His Purchaser explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A man buys an ass on trial and tests its character by observing which companion it chooses in the stable. The ass selects the laziest and greediest beast, so the man returns it immediately, concluding that a creature is known by the company it keeps.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wisdom and Foolishness

The purchaser demonstrates wisdom by judging the ass's character through its choice of companion, avoiding a foolish purchase.

### Human Nature and Vice

The ass's instinct to gravitate toward laziness and greed highlights the vice of seeking comfort in bad company.

## Character check-ins

### The Ass

The newly purchased ass reveals its lazy and greedy nature by choosing the worst companion in the stable.

### The Farmer

The purchaser who tests the ass by observing its choice of companion and returns it based on that judgment.

## Key lines

> I could see what sort of beast he is from the companion he chose for himself.

The man realized the ass's true nature simply by observing which other animal it preferred to be near.

_This line conveys the core moral that one's character is reflected in the company one keeps._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-his-purchaser
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters