proverb · Legacy record
If there were no elephants in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal.
If there were no elephants in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A buffalo becoming great in the absence of elephants makes status depend on comparison. The saying asks what a judgment of size or prominence takes as its reference.
What the words are saying
The animal scene is an analogy rather than a biological ranking of worth. A useful application considers whether an assessment changes with the comparison group. Relative prominence can be real without establishing absolute superiority or making any person less deserving of respect.
Everyday example
A reviewer explains the reference used in calling a result outstanding rather than assuming the label is universal.
When to use it
Use it to examine relative judgments with dignity retained.
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What it does not mean
No universal animal or human worth hierarchy is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
Ghana
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference (2014 AD)
Supplied reference B; unit 641; PDF page 58; collection label: Ghana
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- Ghana