In a peaceful valley lived a young boy named Leo. Leo was bright and energetic, but he had one habit: he couldn't stop talking. Whether he was playing with his friends or eating dinner, he always had something to say—often silly jokes, gossip, or stories that didn't really matter. His words were like tiny bubbles, popping quickly and leaving no trace.
One afternoon, Leo visited Old Silas, the wisest man in the village, who was sitting by a calm, clear lake. Leo ran up to him, bursting with excitement. 'Silas! Silas! Did you hear what happened at the market today? It was so funny!' Leo started blabbering about a minor mishap involving a baker.
Silas smiled gently and held up a finger. 'Leo, before you continue, look at this lake. Watch closely.' Silas picked up a tiny pebble and tossed it into the water. Plink! A small ripple appeared and then vanished. 'What did that pebble do?' Silas asked.
'It made a little splash, but nothing much happened,' Leo replied.
Then, Silas picked up a heavy, smooth stone and threw it into the center of the lake. Splash! A large wave spread across the surface, moving the lily pads and disturbing the water for a long time. 'That stone had weight,' Silas said. 'It made an impact. Your words are just like these stones. If you speak words that have no meaning or purpose, they are like tiny pebbles—they make a little noise and then are forgotten. But if you speak words that are wise and helpful, they are like the heavy stone—they leave a lasting impression. Wise people do not waste their breath on words that carry no weight.'
Leo looked at the ripples in the water and then at Silas. He realized that by talking too much about nothing, he was just making noise. From that day on, Leo learned to listen more and speak only when his words had something meaningful to offer.
