the north wind

the north wind and the sun had a quarrel about which of them was the stronger. while they were disputing with much heat and bluster, a traveler passed along the road wrapped in a cloak.

"let us agree," said the sun, "that he is the stronger who can strip that traveler of his cloak."

"very well," growled the north wind, and at once sent a cold, howling blast against the traveler.

with the first gust of wind the ends of the cloak whipped about the traveler's body. but he immediately wrapped it closely around him, and the harder the wind blew, the tighter he held it to him. the north wind tore angrily at the cloak, but all his efforts were in vain.

the sun

then the sun began to shine. at first his beams were gentle, and in the pleasant warmth after the bitter cold of the north wind, the traveler unfastened his cloak and let it hang loosely from his shoulders. the sun's rays grew warmer and warmer. the man took off his cap and mopped his brow. at last he became so heated that he pulled off his cloak, and, to escape the blazing sunshine, threw himself down in the welcome shade of a tree by the roadside.

gentleness and kind persuasion win where force and bluster fail.

the lion had been badly hurt by the horns of a goat, which he was eating. he was very angry to think that any animal that he chose for a meal, should be so brazen as to wear such dangerous things as horns to scratch him while he ate. so he commanded that all animals with horns should leave his domains within twenty-four hours.

the command struck terror among the beasts. all those who were so unfortunate as to have horns, began to pack up and move out. even the hare, who, as you know, has no horns and so had nothing to fear, passed a very restless night, dreaming awful dreams about the fearful lion.

and when he came out of the warren in the early morning sunshine, and there saw the shadow cast by his long and pointed ears, a terrible fright seized him.

"goodby, neighbor cricket," he called. "i'm off. he will certainly make out that my ears are horns, no matter what i say."

do not give your enemies the slightest reason to attack your reputation.

your enemies will seize any excuse to attack you.