Polypus
animal · 2 works · 2 mentions · 2 anchored passages
polypus · the polypus
spoken of as
1 expressionThe polypus1 mention
De amicorum multitudine (Greek)
Now is there any person living of that industrious, pliant, and universal humor, who can take the pains exactly to imitate all shapes, and will not rather deride the advice of Theognis as absurd and impossible, namely, to learn the craft of the polypus, which puts on the hue of every stone it sticks to?
in the texts
De amicorum multitudine
The octopus, whose skin-deep color changes to match its surroundings serve as the central image for the superficial, chameleon-like adaptability Plutarch argues cannot substitute for the deep, substantial resemblance true friendship requires.
Now is there any person living of that industrious, pliant, and universal humor, who can take the pains exactly to imitate all shapes, and will not rather deride the advice of Theognis as absurd and impossible, namely, to learn the craft of the polypus, which puts on the hue of every stone it sticks to?
Quomodo adolescens poetas audire debeat
The octopus (polypus), whose head is proverbially both delicious to eat and productive of disturbing dreams, used as the opening analogy for poetry's mixed benefit and danger.
They say of the fish called polypus that His head in one respect is very good, But in another very naughty food;
because, though it be very luscious to eat, yet it is thought to disturb the fancy with frightful and confused dreams.