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Alex Peak

The North Wind and the Sun

By Æsop

A dispute arose between the North Wind and the Sun, each claiming that he was stronger than the other.  At last they agreed to try their powers upon a traveller, to see which could soonest strip him of his cloak.

The North Wind had the first try; and, gathering up all his force for the attack, he came whirling furiously down upon the man, and caught up his cloak as though he would wrest it from him by one single effort: but the harder he blew, the more closely the man wrapped it round himself.

Then came the turn of the Sun.

At first he beamed gently upon the traveller, who soon unclasped his cloak and walked on with it hanging loosely about his shoulders: then he shone forth in his full strength, and the man, before he had gone many steps, was glad to throw his cloak right off and complete his journey more lightly clad.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

The moral of this story is that persuasion is better than force.

When you try to force someone to do something you want him or her to do, he or she will usually resist your efforts.  After all, the person usually wants to be free.

Therefore, to change this person’s mind, it is better to try to persuade him or her.  If you are successful, and he or she starts to believe that your way of doing things is better, this person will quickly adopt your way without fuss.

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