The Oracle and the Truth
Once upon a time, a wise seer lived at the edge of an old forest where cool waters flowed. This seer understood the language of the stars and whispered deep secrets about the fate of people. Travelers from distant lands walked long roads to ask him the most difficult questions in their minds. But a proud young man who lived in the same town never believed that the seer knew everything. He decided to prepare a tricky plan to shame the wise man in front of everyone. On a warm morning when the sun shone brightly, the young man caught a tiny bird in the meadow without hurting it. Hiding the bird in his palm behind his back, he walked quickly toward the humble hut of the seer.
He stopped in the middle of the curious crowd gathered in the square and called to the wise man in a loud voice. “Oh seer who claims to know everything, do you know what I am holding in my hand?” he asked. The wise man noticed the sly light in the young man's eyes and said with a smile, “There is a small bird in your palm.” Surprised by this correct answer, the young man spoke at once to set his real trap. “Then tell me, wise man, is this bird in my hand alive or dead?” he shouted. The young man thought to himself that his plan was perfect and rejoiced inside. If the seer said “alive”, he would kill the bird; if he said “dead”, he would set the bird free and make him a liar.
Everyone in the square held their breath and began to wait for the decisive answer of the wise man. The old seer looked long and deeply into the eyes of the young man with a kind gaze. Breaking the silence, the wise man gave that great answer which would stay in the minds of all around him. “The decision is in your hand, my child; to let it live or to kill it depends entirely on your conscience,” he said. Ashamed before this deep wisdom, the young man bowed his head and slowly opened his palm. The tiny bird, free at last, chirped with joy and flew toward the deep blue sky. Taking responsibility for our own choices is the most valuable step of true wisdom. Cunning is not wisdom.