Aesop

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Rewritten by The Legendary Connection

TLC#00024

Once upon a time, the North Wind and the Sun had a disagreement. Each thought he was stronger than the other. To settle the argument, they decided to test their strength on a traveler walking along the road. Whoever could make the traveler remove his cloak would be declared the strongest.

The North Wind went first. He gathered all his strength and blew as hard as he could. He howled and whirled around the traveler, trying to tear the cloak from his shoulders. But the stronger the wind blew, the more tightly the traveler wrapped the cloak around himself. The North Wind kept trying, but the harder he pushed, the more the traveler held on to his cloak.

Next, it was the Sun’s turn. The Sun smiled gently and began to shine softly down on the traveler. His warm rays felt so nice that the traveler soon loosened his grip on the cloak. As the Sun grew brighter, the traveler felt warmer and warmer. Soon, he opened the cloak and let it hang loosely from his shoulders. After a few more steps, feeling the full warmth of the Sun, the traveler took off the cloak completely and continued his journey with a light heart.

The North Wind, watching from above, understood that the Sun’s gentle warmth had succeeded where his fierce winds had failed.

Kindness and warmth can often achieve what force and strength cannot. The Sun had shown that gentle persuasion is far more powerful than trying to force someone to act.

Original Source: ---. “Aesop’s Fables; a New Translation.” Https://Www.gutenberg.org/Files/11339/11339-h/11339-H.htm, 25 Mar. 2023, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/11339/pg11339-images.html#THE_NORTH_WIND_AND_THE_SUN. Accessed 31 Jan. 2024.