Page Title

A Fable

"A kind and wise old man living in a small village is reputed to be able to answer all questions.  Two young rascals want to trick him and prove him a fool.  They plan to catch a bird.  One will hold it in his hands, behind his back.  He will then test the old man: 'What do I hold in my hand?' Should he answer correctly - that it is a bird - they will hurl at him the fatal trick question: 'Is it alive, or is it dead?'  Should he reply 'Dead,' they will show him the living bird and prove him wrong.  But should he say, 'Alive,' they will break its neck, show him the dead bird, and exclaim, 'You see you're wrong, the bird is dead! The villagers will laugh at you.'

They catch a bird and approach the old man.

'Old man, we hear you can answer all questions,' they say contemptuously.  'We have one for you .  Will you answer us?'

'If you insist,' he responds.

'We do,' replies one of the rascals, and he continues arrogantly: 'I'll bet you can't tell what I have in my hands behind my back.'

Gently, the old man asks, 'Could it be something that flies?'

'Not bad, not bad,' the rascals admit grudgingly.  'You were right.  It is a bird.'

The one who holds the bird behind his back says, 'But now, old man, comes the tough question: Is it alive, or is it dead?'

There is a pause.  The rascals wait with devilish smirks on their faces.  Finally, the old man, reflecting, answers, measuring his words.

'I think, young man, it is all in your hands (Koestenbaum, 2002, p. 327-328)."

How wise are you?

Reference:  Koestenbaum, P. (2002).  Leadership: the inner side of greatness: a philosophy for leaders.  San Francisco:  Jossey-Bass.

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Created: 2008-04-03, Updated: 2009-01-09