Aesop's Fable on Brexit and the EU: Negotiating from Weakness

A very short fable

Other versions:

The Hares argued all should be equal. The Lions replied: “Your words are good; but they lack both claws and teeth such as we have.”

The Hares harangued the assembly, and argued that all should be equal. The Lions made this reply: "Your words, O Hares! are good; but they lack both claws and teeth such as we have." 

Once upon a time, it was the British Lion that had the claws and teeth...but at this stage in negotiations, who is the lion, who the hare?

What was that other folk-tale, about Br'er Rabbit and the fox? Maybe Mrs. May can pull a rabbit out of the hat, so to speak, and use the same tactic:

"Please don't fling me in that brier-patch"

Perhaps the EU fox will do just that, so the British rabbit can use the thorns and briers to escape...


Related: The Foreign Office and Brexit, Prospect Magazine