"The trees went forth on a time to anoint king over them: and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us, But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the other trees? And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow; and if not let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the Cedars of Lebanon."
This is equivalent to saying that really useful people avoid the task of governing men, and that those alone do not hesitate to undertake the burden who have nothing in them, and who believe that they can escape from all difficulty by vain boasting.