Foreword:
This fable represents superiority of persuasion over force. It is numbered 46 in the Perry Index (as 46. The North Wind and the Sun), and was well-known in Ancient Greece but it had been interpreted in different ways over time. This is one of the few Aesop's fable, where animals or humans do not play the primary roles.
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Once, the North Wind and the Sun had an argument.
They quarelled over the superiority of their strength, while each of them proclaimed to be stronger than the other.
The Sun tried to explain calmly, that from as far as it is located, it can not only heat the ground, but also bring about unbearable scorching heat.
But the North Wind was not impressed, and stated how it can cause devastation, far more than scorching heat can.
As both of them could not convince the other about their superiority, they agreed to put their strengths to test.
About then, a traveller was passing below, and they decided to test their strength on him. The traveller was wearing a cloak over his clothes, and a challenge was set between them to test who could force the cloak off.
To swiftly settle the dispute between them, the North Wind made the first attempt.
It blew strongly over the traveller, to blow the cloak off him. But with the strong winds blowing, the traveller gathered his cloak and held to it strongly.
Unsuccessful on its initial attempt, the North Wind blew harder, and directed strong, cold winds at the traveller. But with the winds being stronger and colder than before, the traveller gathered his cloak even tighter.
Disappointed that its strength was proving to be futile over a simple man, the North Wind blew even harder, and blew a very cold blast, accompanied with a sharp, driving shower. But with the cold, wet and strong winds, the traveller wrapped his cloak, even more closely, around himself.
Frustrated, the North Wind gave up in despair, to see how the Sun fares.
But, instead of displaying its sheer strength, the Sun took pity on the shivering man, and sent warm rays directed at the traveller.
This was a welcome change for the cold and wet traveller, as he enjoyed the warmth of the Sun, especially after the chilling spate of winds.
Observing how the traveller was enjoying it, the Sun directed even warmer rays towards the traveller.
To the North Wind's surprise, this time around, the traveller looked skyward to thank, and unfastened his cloak to dry himself and fully enjoy the warmth of the Sun.
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With a smile, the Sun shone in all its glory, and darted its warm sultry beams upon the poor weather-beaten traveller.
Unable to endure it any longer, and overcome with heat, the traveller decided it was too hot to walk with his cloak on.
He flung off his cloak, and continued his walk with the cloak folded on one of his arms, searching for a shade to rest for a while.
Although angered for losing the test of strength, the North Wind accepted defeat, learning the lesson that strength and force cannot attain everything.
And, thus, the dispute between the North Wind and the Sun was forever settled.
Moral:
Kindness effects more than severity.
Or,
Gentleness and kind persuasion win, where force and bluster fail.
Summary:
The Sun and the North Wind got into an argument, over which of them was stronger. They settled to compete on a man walking with a cloak - on who could force the cloak off him. The wind, at once, blew strongly on him, to throw away the cloak from the man. But the stronger the winds got, the cooler the man felt, and wrapped the cloak more and more tightly around himself. After the North Wind failed, the Sun provided the warmth of his light. The man was relieved from the warmth, especially after the strong cool winds. He decided, that he did not need the cloak to warm himself anymore, and opened the cloak to enjoy the warmth of Sun.