The Wind And The Sun

One day, the Wind and the Sun were having an argument.
“I’m stronger than you!” said the Sun.
“No you’re not,” said the Wind. “I’m much stronger than you!”

As they argued, they saw a man wearing a red cloak, walking along the road.
“I propose a test,” said the Wind. “Whichever one of us can tear the cloak from the back of that man is the stronger.”
The Wind took the first turn. He blew so hard that leaves and branches were torn from trees. Clothes hung out to dry were blown off the line. Everyonehurried indoors for shelter.

But the Wind could not take the cloak off the man. The man shivered and held tightly to his cloak.
“You have failed,” said the Sun. “And now it is my turn.”

The Sun shone. It was very warm. The man felt hot and thirsty. He stopped to drink a cup of water.

The Sun shone brighter and the man became hotter and hotter. He pulled off his boots. It was much too hot to wear them.
At last he came to a stream. He sat on the bank and dipped his feet in the cool water. But the Sun shone warmly on his back.

The man decided to lie down in the shade of a tree to rest. He took off his cloak and laid it across the grass.
“I have won,” said the Sun to the Wind.
“As you can see it is easier to influence people with gentleness than with force.”

Moral

Kindness effects more than severity.

Warm persuasion is better than brute force.