--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Aesop, that great man, saw his master…" description: "\"Aesop, that great man, saw his master making water as he walked. \"What!\" he said, \"Must we void ourselves as we run?\" Use our timeas best we may, yet a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michel-de-montaigne-142_aesop_aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-maki_243506.jpg" --- # Aesop, that great man, saw his master making water as he… ![“Aesop, that great man, saw his master making water as he walked. "What!" he said, "Must we void ourselves as we run?" Use our timeas best we may, yet a great part of it will still be idly and ill spent.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michel-de-montaigne-142_aesop_aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-maki_243506.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michel-de-montaigne-142_aesop_aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-maki_243506.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michel-de-montaigne-142_aesop_aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-maki_243506.jpg) > “Aesop, that great man, saw his master making water as he walked. "What!" he said, "Must we void ourselves as we run?" Use our timeas best we may, yet a great part of it will still be idly and ill spent.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often waste time on idle pursuits; we should use our limited time wisely despite inevitable inefficiencies. **In simple terms:** Time is precious; avoid idle waste. Key Takeaway Prioritize purposeful activities. Themes time management mindfulness efficiency philosophy Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - daily planning - creative projects - learning - exercise - volunteering Key Concepts existentialism self-discipline human nature Questions to Reflect On - What can you do today that adds value? - How do you balance work and rest? A Different Perspective Perfect efficiency is impossible; some leisure is restorative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesop/) [Aesop Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesop-great-2436050/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Making Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-water-2436052/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Void](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Water Walked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-walked-2436051/) ## Related quotes > [Making prohibition work is like making water run uphill; it's against nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/making-prohibition-work-is-like-making-water-run-uphill-it-s-against/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. hares have no time to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-brookner/it-is-my-contention-that-aesop-was-writing-for-the-tortoise-market/) [Anita Brookner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-brookner/) > [In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-brookner/in-real-life-it-is-the-hare-who-wins-every-time-look-around-you-and/) [Anita Brookner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-brookner/) > [“Hester shook her head. 'Don't confuse what you do with who you are, dearie. Besides, there's no shame in humble work. Why, Aesop himself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-auxier/hester-shook-her-head-don-t-confuse-what-you-do-with-who-you-are/) [Jonathan Auxier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-auxier/) > [“Slow and steady wins the race." "That is almost always untrue." "Take it up with Aesop." "Aesop never existed. The stories credited to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/slow-and-steady-wins-the-race-that-is-almost-always-untrue-take-it-up/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“And yet surely to alchemy this right is due, that it may be compared to the husbandman whereof Aesop makes the fable, that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/and-yet-surely-to-alchemy-this-right-is-due-that-it-may-be-compared/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Because When you write about people, you inevitably offend--but if you write about animals, the evil do not recognize themselves but the good understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/because-when-you-write-about-people-you-inevitably-offend-but-if-you/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [I have come to the conclusion that a goodly number of the fables that pass under the name of the Samian slave, Aesop, were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jacobs/i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-a-goodly-number-of-the-fables-that/) [Joseph Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jacobs/) > [“I would by all means have men beware, lest Aesop 's pretty fable of the fly that sate on the pole of a chariot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-would-by-all-means-have-men-beware-lest-aesop-s-pretty-fable-of-the/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Aesop fable. “You can play the clever fox all you want—but you’ll never get the grapes that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-dobelli/aesop-fable-you-can-play-the-clever-fox-all-you-want-but-you-ll-never/) [Rolf Dobelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-dobelli/) > [“One such monster lived around 600 B.C. and was the slave of a Greek nobleman named Iadmon who lived on Samos. This unfortunate was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-p-mannix/one-such-monster-lived-around-600-b-c-and-was-the-slave-of-a-greek/) [Daniel P. Mannix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-p-mannix/) > [“Eva, can I pose as Aesop in a cave?" No, Don.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-agee/eva-can-i-pose-as-aesop-in-a-cave-no-don/) [Jon Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-agee/) > [“Be content with your lot; once cannot be first in everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/be-content-with-your-lot-once-cannot-be-first-in-everything/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Aesop quotes > [“Be content with your lot; once cannot be first in everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/be-content-with-your-lot-once-cannot-be-first-in-everything/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“Eva, can I pose as Aesop in a cave?" No, Don.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-agee/eva-can-i-pose-as-aesop-in-a-cave-no-don/) [Jon Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-agee/) > [“One such monster lived around 600 B.C. and was the slave of a Greek nobleman named Iadmon who lived on Samos. This unfortunate was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-p-mannix/one-such-monster-lived-around-600-b-c-and-was-the-slave-of-a-greek/) [Daniel P. Mannix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-p-mannix/) > [“Aesop fable. “You can play the clever fox all you want—but you’ll never get the grapes that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-dobelli/aesop-fable-you-can-play-the-clever-fox-all-you-want-but-you-ll-never/) [Rolf Dobelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-dobelli/) > [“I would by all means have men beware, lest Aesop 's pretty fable of the fly that sate on the pole of a chariot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-would-by-all-means-have-men-beware-lest-aesop-s-pretty-fable-of-the/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Because When you write about people, you inevitably offend--but if you write about animals, the evil do not recognize themselves but the good understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/because-when-you-write-about-people-you-inevitably-offend-but-if-you/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“And yet surely to alchemy this right is due, that it may be compared to the husbandman whereof Aesop makes the fable, that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/and-yet-surely-to-alchemy-this-right-is-due-that-it-may-be-compared/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Slow and steady wins the race." "That is almost always untrue." "Take it up with Aesop." "Aesop never existed. The stories credited to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/slow-and-steady-wins-the-race-that-is-almost-always-untrue-take-it-up/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Hester shook her head. 'Don't confuse what you do with who you are, dearie. Besides, there's no shame in humble work. Why, Aesop himself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-auxier/hester-shook-her-head-don-t-confuse-what-you-do-with-who-you-are/) [Jonathan Auxier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-auxier/) > [In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-brookner/in-real-life-it-is-the-hare-who-wins-every-time-look-around-you-and/) [Anita Brookner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-brookner/) > [It is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. hares have no time to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-brookner/it-is-my-contention-that-aesop-was-writing-for-the-tortoise-market/) [Anita Brookner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-brookner/) > [I have come to the conclusion that a goodly number of the fables that pass under the name of the Samian slave, Aesop, were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jacobs/i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-a-goodly-number-of-the-fables-that/) [Joseph Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jacobs/) [Browse all 13 Aesop quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesop/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Aesop, that great man, saw his master making water as he walked. \"What!\" he said, \"Must we void ourselves as we run?\" Use our timeas best we may, yet a great part of it will still be idly and ill spent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-making-water-as-he-walked-what-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aesop" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-making-water-as-he-walked-what-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michel-de-montaigne-142_aesop_aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-maki_243506.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michel-de-montaigne-142_aesop_aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-maki_243506.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/michel-de-montaigne-142_aesop_aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-maki_243506.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Aesop, that great man, saw his master making water as he walked. \"What!\" he said, \"Must we void ourselves as…” — Michel de Montaigne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Aesop, that great man, saw his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-making-water-as-he-walked-what-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/aesop-that-great-man-saw-his-master-making-water-as-he-walked-what-he/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```