The Wall and the Stake
Long ago, beside an old forest where cool waters flowed, there stood a high stone wall. For years, this strong wall protected the colorful flowers and sweet fruit trees in the garden from the wind. Every morning, the sun lovingly warmed its gray stones, and birds perched on it to sing cheerful songs. The lovely wall was very content with its happy life and peaceful days in the garden.
On a hot summer day, a master carpenter with a stern gaze came to the garden. The man placed the pointed wooden peg he held against the middle of the wall and began hitting it with a heavy hammer. At every blow, the pointed peg painfully wounded the wall's stones and moved deeper inside.
In great pain, the weeping wall shouted sorrowfully to the harsh peg. "Why are you doing such evil to me and ruthlessly breaking my body?" it said. The pointed peg bowed its head and sighed upon seeing the wall's condition. In a sad voice, the peg replied, "I do not want to harm you, my little friend." "Do not blame me, for you do not see the man standing behind me and hitting me with the hammer." "The main force driving me into you is that heavy hammer behind me."
Then the wall understood that sometimes the one doing harm is merely a tool. The true culprit is always the person hidden behind who gives the order. People should look at the hand holding the tongs, not at the tongs that inflict harm. He who cannot beat the donkey beats the saddle.