In a bustling kingdom, there lived a sculptor known for his incredible patience and honest work. He was well-loved by everyone. One year, a grand election was held to choose the new leader of the town, and the sculptor decided to stand for it.
His opponent was a wealthy merchant who was very powerful but had a habit of mocking others to make himself look better. On the day of the big public gathering, the merchant stood before the massive crowd and pointed at the sculptor with a sneer. "Look at this man!" he laughed loudly. "He was once a mere clerk in a dusty old library, just stacking books. How can someone who only moved paper lead a whole kingdom?"
A heavy silence fell over the crowd. The sculptor felt a sting of embarrassment, but he did not lose his cool. He took a deep breath, looked at the crowd with a kind smile, and then turned to the merchant.
"My dear friend," the sculptor said calmly, "you are absolutely right. I did work in that library. And if I remember correctly, you were the delivery driver who brought the books to us every morning. While you were busy driving the cart, I was busy organizing the shelves. It is wonderful to see that you still remember our old days together!"
The crowd erupted in laughter and loud applause. The merchant's attempt to shame the sculptor had backfired, making the sculptor look humble and wise. The people realized that the sculptor understood the value of every job. By the end of the day, the people chose the sculptor as their new leader.
Moral
Humility and quick wit are more powerful than insults.
