Buridan's Ass

Buridan’s ass

placed exactly between two equal haystacks, could not decide which to turn to in his hunger. [Fr. Philos.: Brewer Dictionary, 154]

See: Dilemma

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Buridan’s Ass

 

ASS, a story ascribed to Buridan about a don-key that could not decide between two absolutely identical piles of hay and was doomed to starvation by his indecision. Metaphorically, an indecisive person.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.