Aesop’s Fables
While reading Aesop’s fables I was curious about the origins of these stories. Wikipedia gives a mixed understanding of who or what Aesop was. Regardless, the stories continue to resonate today.
The ability to provide meaning in a short story is a great skill, and Aesop’s fables indeed focus on providing short and sharp stories with timeless lessons.
One story that particularly captured my attention was the story of The North Wind and the Sun. It is based on the proverb – persuasion is better than force.
The story from Wikipedia is below.
The North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger, when a traveler came along wrapped in a warm cloak.
They agreed that the one who first succeeded in making the traveler take his cloak off should be considered stronger than the other.
Then the North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the more he blew the more closely did the traveler fold his cloak around him;
and at last the North Wind gave up the attempt. Then the Sun shined out warmly, and immediately the traveler took off his cloak.
And so the North Wind was obliged to confess that the Sun was the stronger of the two.
What is your favourite fable?
Can you write a short story?
