The North Wind and the Sun

The North Wind and the Sun

 Once upon a time, the North Wind met the Sun. The North Wind boasted of his great strength. The Sun said that there was more power in gentleness.

“Let’s have a contest,” said the Sun.

Far below them, a man was travelling along a winding road. He was wearing a warm winter coat.

“As a test of strength,” said the Sun, “let us see which of us can take the coat off that man.”

“It will be quite simple for me to make him take off his coat,” boasted the Wind.

The Wind blew so hard, the birds clung to the trees. The world was filled with dust and leaves. It became cold and the ground was covered with frost. The man started to shiver. But the harder the wind blew, the tighter he clung to his coat.

Then, the Sun came out from behind a cloud. The Sun warmed the air and the frosty ground. The man on the road unbuttoned his coat.

The sun grew slowly brighter and brighter.

Soon the man felt so hot, he took off his coat and sat down in the shade under a tree.

“How did you do that?” said the Wind.

“It was easy,” said the Sun, “I was gentle.”

The moral of the story is that gentleness is more powerful than strength.

 The End