The North Wind and the Sun

THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN

The North Wind and the Sun had an argument. Each one thought he was stronger than the other. At last they agreed to have a contest. They would try their powers on a traveller walking down the road. Whoever could get the man to take off his cloak first would be the winner.

The North Wind went first. He gathered up all his strength. Then he came whooshing down hard on the man. He tried to rip the cloak right off him. But the harder he blew, the more tightly the man wrapped his cloak around himself.

Then it was the Sun's turn. At first he shone gently and warmly on the traveller. Before long, the man unclasped his cloak and walked on with it hanging loose around his shoulders. Then the Sun shone with his full strength. The man had only taken a few more steps when he was happy to throw his cloak off completely and finish his journey feeling nice and light.

Being kind and gentle works better than being rough and pushy.