The Earth Is The Ear Of A Bear

People had to be careful when talking, since the bear could hear everything said about it, even when it was far away. Even when it retired into its den, even when it was asleep, the bear carried on following what was happening in the world. “The earth is the ear of a bear,” people said.

THE CELESTIAL HUNTER, Roberto Calasso (UK) (US)

Also from that very quotable book:

The first divine being whose name it was forbidden to mention was the bear. In this respect monotheism was not an innovation but a revival, a hardening.

And:

“The biggest danger in life is that the food of humans is all made of souls.”