The Gods, according to an ancient legend, made choice of certain trees to be under their special protection. Jupiter chose the oak, Venus the myrtle, Apollo the laurel, Cybele the pine, and Hercules the poplar. Minerva, wondering why they had preferred trees not yielding fruit, inquired the reason for their choice. Jupiter replied, “It is lest we should seem to covet the honor for the fruit.”But said Minerva, “Let anyone say what he will the olive is more dear to me on account of its fruit.”Then said Jupiter, “My daughter, you are rightly called wise; for unless what we do is useful, the glory of it is vain.” 据古代的一个传说，诸神要各自选一棵树予以特别庇护。朱庇特选择了橡树，维纳斯选择了爱神木，阿波罗选择了月桂树，西布莉选择了松树，而赫拉克勒斯则选择了白杨树。智慧女神密涅瓦搞不懂为什们他们都偏爱不结果实的树，便询问诸神这样选择的原因。朱庇特回答说：“是为了避免别人认为我们贪图果实的荣耀。”但密涅瓦说：“他们想怎么说就让他们怎么说吧。橄榄树能结果实，所以它对我来说更加珍贵。”于是朱庇特说：“我的女儿啊，你才是真的聪明。因为除非我们所做的是益事，否则，荣耀没有任何意义。”