Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.

Hear now the ancient voice of Aesop, the teller of fables, who clothed eternal truths in the garments of story. He declared: “Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.” At first, the words may seem harsh, for should we not have compassion for the troubled? Yet Aesop speaks here not of kindness, but of judgment. For when a man is in distress, his mind is clouded, his spirit weighed down, and his counsel is often born not of clarity but of desperation. To trust such advice is to steer your ship by a broken compass, to follow a path charted in confusion rather than wisdom.

The origin of these words is found in one of Aesop’s fables. A shipwrecked man, clinging to the shore, urged others to risk themselves for his salvation, yet he had no means to repay them nor wisdom to guide them. His counsel was self-serving, designed not for their good but for his survival. From this tale, Aesop warned that those who suffer may sometimes advise not what is right, but what eases their own burden. Thus, the proverb reminds us to distinguish between sympathy for the sufferer and the wisdom of their guidance.

History itself provides a mirror of this truth. Consider the downfall of Napoleon after his disastrous Russian campaign. Surrounded by ruin and retreat, he urged his armies onward, making promises of victory that could no longer be grasped. His soldiers, trusting the words of a man in difficulties, suffered unspeakable loss in the snows of that campaign. His advice, born of pride and desperation, did not save France—it hastened her misery. Here we see the folly of placing trust in counsel that is warped by fear, desperation, or pride.

Yet let us be cautious, for Aesop does not counsel cruelty. To aid the man in difficulties is noble; to trust his judgment blindly is dangerous. For in moments of despair, even the wisest may falter, and even the strongest may speak words of error. Compassion must be coupled with discernment. Offer help, but weigh carefully the guidance that arises from a troubled soul. True wisdom listens with empathy but acts with prudence.

The teaching is timeless: when the heart is heavy with fear, it cannot always see the road clearly. The one who is drowning may cling to another not out of malice, but from instinct, yet in doing so he may drag his rescuer down. So too with advice—when it comes from one ensnared in crisis, it may reflect not what is best for all, but what seems like salvation for the sufferer. A clear head must discern the difference.

The lesson for us is this: seek counsel from those whose vision is unclouded, whose minds are not consumed by their own storms. When you are faced with decisions, turn not to those who speak from desperation, but to those who speak from steadiness and calm. And when you yourself are in difficulties, be humble enough to recognize that your own advice may be flawed, and instead lean upon the wisdom of others.

Therefore, remember Aesop’s teaching: “Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.” Do not despise the afflicted, but do not entrust your destiny to their judgment. Help them, comfort them, stand beside them—but when you must choose your path, look instead to those who are free from the snares of despair. In this way, you will walk with both compassion and prudence, balancing mercy with wisdom, and ensuring that your choices are guided not by desperation, but by truth.

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