Section 167
The Sick Man and the Doctor explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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A Sick Man received a visit from his Doctor, who asked him how he was. "Fairly well, Doctor," said he, "but I find I sweat a great deal." "Ah," said the Doctor, "that's a good sign." On his next visit he asked the same question, and his patient replied, "I'm much as usual, but...
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Public-domain original
A Sick Man received a visit from his Doctor, who asked him how he was.
"Fairly well, Doctor," said he, "but I find I sweat a great deal."
"Ah," said the Doctor, "that's a good sign." On his next visit he
asked the same question, and his patient replied, "I'm much as usual,
but I've taken to having shivering fits, which leave me cold all
over." "Ah," said the Doctor, "that's a good sign too." When he came
the third time and inquired as before about his patient's health, the
Sick Man said that he felt very feverish. "A very good sign," said the
Doctor; "you are doing very nicely indeed." Afterwards a friend came
to see the invalid, and on asking him how he did, received this reply:
"My dear friend, I'm dying of good signs."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A Sick Man received a visit from his Doctor, who asked him how he was.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it turns a common human habit into a short lesson about judgment and consequences.
Characters in this scene
- The Sick Man: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Doctor: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
In simple terms, The Sick Man and The Doctor face a small situation that reveals a larger lesson about behavior and consequences.