Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

A Mahout who had dismounted from his elephant, and was quietly standing on his head in the middle of the highway, was asked by the animal why he did not revert and move on.

“You are making a spectacle of yourself,” said the beast.

“If I choose to stand upside down,” replied the man, “I am very well aware that I incur the displeasure of those who adhere with slavish tenacity to the prejudices and traditions of society; but it seems to me that rebuke would come with a more consistent grace from one who does not wear a tail upon his nose.”

This fable teaches that four straight lines may enclose a circle, but there will be corners to let.