Diogenes on the Journey
Long ago, a wise old man lived in a valley of merry blue waters. This wise man's name was Diogenes, and he loved only a simple life. One sunny day, he set out on a long journey. On the road he reached a big, deep river with rushing water. The river was too high to cross, so he waited on the bank. Just then a kind man saw the wise man's helpless face.
The man came quickly to him and lifted him onto his back. The strong man carried the sage safely to the other bank. Diogenes was very glad about this kindness and thanked the man. "I have no money for you, but my heart is very grateful," he said. Right at that moment, another traveller came to the riverside. Without a thought, the kind man ran and carried him too.
But this new traveller was a very rude and disrespectful person. The wise Diogenes watched all of this carefully. He understood that the man helped everyone without thinking. The wise man walked up to the helper again. "I do not thank you now, because you treat good and bad the same," he said. He understood that a thoughtless kindness has no real value. True kindness gains its value through reason and right choice. Do good and cast it into the sea: if the fish does not know it, heaven does.