A Dog was lying in a manger full of hay. When the Ox came to eat, the Dog growled and snapped at him. "You don’t eat hay," said the Ox, "so why keep me from it?" But the Dog didn’t move, keeping the Ox from eating.
Moral: Don’t begrudge others what you can’t enjoy yourself.
"The Dog in the Manger" is a classic fable that imparts a timeless lesson about selfishness and envy. In the story, a dog lies in a manger filled with hay, a food it cannot eat. When an ox approaches to eat the hay, the dog growls and prevents it from doing so. The ox remarks on the dog's behavior, noting that the dog cannot eat the hay itself, yet refuses to allow
others who can.
This fable illustrates the concept of begrudging others what one cannot enjoy oneself. It serves as a metaphor for individuals who, out of spite or jealousy, prevent others from accessing resources or opportunities they themselves do not need or cannot use. The phrase "dog in the manger" has thus come to describe such behavior.
The fable has been referenced in various cultural and literary contexts, including the Gospel of Thomas, where it is used to criticize those who obstruct others' access to knowledge or spiritual enlightenment. It has also appeared in works by Lucian and has been depicted in numerous artistic renditions over the centuries.
이 이야기 "The Dog in the Manger"(구유 속 개)은 이기심과 질투를 주제로 다룹니다. 한 마리의 개가 자신이 먹지 못하는 건초를 구유에서 차지하며, 그것을 먹을 수 있는 소가 다가오자 으르렁거리며 방해하는 내용입니다. 이 이야기는 자신이 이용할 수 없는 자원을 다른 이들이 이용하지 못하게 막는 비합리적이고 질투심 가득한 태도를 상징합니다.
또한 "dog in the manger"라는 표현은 이런 행동을 묘사하는 관용어로 자리 잡았고, 이 주제는 다양한 문학 및 문화적 문맥에서 언급되었습니다. 예를 들어, 토마스의 복음서에서 지식이나 깨달음을 가로막는 사람들을 비판하는 데 사용되었으며, 루키아노스의 작품들에서도 등장하고, 예술 작품에서도 종종 표현되었습니다.
For a visual representation of the fable, you might find this animated version helpful: https://youtu.be/OiQ_Af8yDXY