The North Wind and the Sun

A Big Argument

High up in the sky, the North Wind and the Sun were having an argument.

"I am the strongest!" roared the North Wind. "I can blow down trees and push big clouds across the sky!"

"You are strong," said the Sun warmly. "But I think being strong is not the same as being best."

The North Wind huffed. "Let us have a contest, then. We will see who is truly the most powerful!"

Just then, they looked down at the road below. A man was walking along, wrapped up in a big warm coat.

"Here is our contest," said the Sun. "Whoever can make that man take off his coat is the winner."

"Easy!" said the North Wind. "Watch me!"

The North Wind took a deep, deep breath. Then he blew as hard as he could.

Whoooosh! A cold wind rushed down the road. It blew the man's hair. It blew the leaves off the trees.

But did the man take off his coat? No! He was cold, so he pulled his coat tighter around himself.

The North Wind blew even harder. WHOOOOSH! He huffed and he puffed. The wind was icy and wild.

But the colder it got, the tighter the man held his coat. He gripped it with both hands so it would not blow away.

At last, the North Wind ran out of puff. He had blown and blown, but the man still had his coat on. The Wind had not won.

"Now it is my turn," said the Sun gently.

The Sun came out from behind a cloud. She shone down softly and warmly on the road.

The man stopped holding his coat so tightly. The warm sunshine felt nice.

The Sun shone a little more. It grew warm and cosy.

"My, it is getting warm," said the man. He undid the top button of his coat.

The Sun shone brighter still, warm and golden.

"Phew! It is so hot now," said the man. He took off his big coat, folded it over his arm, and walked on, smiling in the sunshine.

The Sun had won — not by being loud or rough, but by being warm and gentle.

"You see," said the Sun kindly. "Sometimes a gentle, warm way works far better than huffing and puffing."

And the North Wind, very quietly, knew that she was right.

The moral: Kindness and gentleness can do what force and shouting cannot.