Help finding an illustration of a "saying among the rabbins"?

August 2, 2015 10:00 PM

A while back, I was insomnia-browsing, and I came across either an illustration or a photograph of a tattoo, related to the saying below. Unfortunately, I can't remember which. Either way, it was black-and-white, in a simple engraved style. Any ideas what this illustration could be? If it was a tattoo, it seemed like it was probably copied from or inspired by a historical illustration.

Here's the text I found related to the illustration [source]:

It is a common saying among the rabbins, "Sin is, at first, like a fine silken thread, scarcely felt; but the temptation strengthens by habit; the fine thread grows to the thickness of a cable or cart-rope, which binds the unhappy victim with relentless power."

The illustration had a filament stretching from the top to the bottom of the image, winding through a few elements of the saying (bobbin of thread, cart...? cable thing..?, possibly a set of shackles) as it grew larger, from thread to rope. I don't think it had the full text of the saying, but maybe a few words.

Here's hoping somebody has some deep knowledge about these sorts of illustrations... thanks in advance!

posted by aaronbeekay to Media & Arts (1 answer total)

Best answer: Hah! Okay, it turns out it was NOT online -- I have a little collection of Christian tracts sitting next to my desk, and I guess it was the cover illustration to one of the tracts. Sorry to mislead.

In case somebody is curious about it, I've scanned it and uploaded it here.

wheee
posted by aaronbeekay at 12:10 PM on August 4, 2015