The Oak and the Reed

On the bank of a river, a great oak tree and a thin reed lived side by side. The oak was so big and strong that its branches shaded the sky. The reed was a frail-looking plant that bent and straightened with every breath of wind.

One day the oak spoke to the reed: "Poor reed, I pity you. Even a tiny sparrow landing on you makes you bend. A light breeze lays you flat on the ground. Look at me! Even storms cannot move me. If only you had been born in my shade, I would have protected you."

The reed answered calmly: "Thank you for thinking of me, Brother Oak. But don't worry about me. The winds bend me, but they do not break me. I bend, the wind passes, and I stand up again. It is you I worry about. You never bend."

The oak laughed at these words. "Me? I have stood here for a hundred years!"

That very evening the sky darkened. A storm broke out such as had never been seen before. The wind howled, the river rose, the rain poured down in sheets.

The reed bent at once. Whichever way the wind blew, it lay that way, bowing until it touched the water. The oak stood straight, holding its branches against the wind. "You cannot bring me down!" it thundered.

The wind grew fiercer. The oak resisted and resisted... and at last, with a terrible crack, it was torn out by the roots and fell onto the riverbank.

In the morning the storm was over. The reed slowly straightened and shook off the raindrops. It looked sadly at the great oak lying beside it.

From that day on, every plant along the river knew: looking strong is not always the same as being strong. Sometimes knowing how to bend takes more strength than standing straight.