If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined.
 Aesop, Aesop's Fables. copy citation

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Author Aesop
Source Aesop's Fables
Topic ruin wish
Date
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by George Fyler Townsend
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21/21-h/21-h.htm

Context

“and taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of death: “I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the earth?” If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined. The Flies and the Honey-Pot A NUMBER of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned in a housekeeper’s room, and placing their feet in it, ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated.” source