In a peaceful valley, two friends named Aris and Leo lived close to each other. Aris was a man of principle; he believed in standing by the truth, no matter the cost. Leo, however, was a man of convenience; he changed his opinions to please whoever was standing in front of him.
One chilly autumn evening, the two were resting under a large oak tree when a sudden, biting wind began to blow. Leo started shivering. To warm his freezing hands, he kept blowing warm air from his mouth onto his palms.
Seeing his friend in discomfort, Aris reached into his bag and pulled out a small, steaming cup of herbal tea. He handed it to Leo. Leo eagerly took the cup and began blowing on the hot liquid to cool it down before taking a sip.
Aris watched him for a moment and smiled softly. "Why are you smiling?" Leo asked, feeling confused.
"Look at what you are doing, Leo," Aris replied gently. "You are using your breath to warm your hands, but at the same time, you are using that same breath to cool the tea. The very thing that helps you in one moment is working against you in another. You are just like that. You use your words to support the right side one moment, and then use those same words to support the wrong side the next. A person's word should be like a steady flame, not a wind that shifts direction constantly."
Leo sat in silence, realizing how his lack of conviction made him unreliable. From that day on, he strove to speak with honesty and purpose.
Moral
A person without firm principles is as inconsistent as the wind.
