THE OAK AND THE REEDS

An Oak that grew on the bank of a river was uprooted by a severe gale of wind, and thrown across the stream. It fell among some Reeds growing by the water, and said to them, “How is it that you, who are so frail and slender, have managed to weather the storm, whereas I, with all my strength, have been torn up by the roots and hurled into the river?” “You were stubborn,” came the reply, “and fought against the storm, which proved stronger than you: but we bow and yield to every breeze, and thus the gale passed harmlessly over our heads.”

栎树和芦苇

一棵栎树长在河岸边，遇到一场暴风，被连根拔起，抛到了河对岸。他落在了水边生长的芦苇中，对他们说：“这是怎么回事啊？你们这么脆弱，居然能够平安度过风暴，而我呢，强大有力，却被连根拔起丢到了河里。”芦苇回答说：“你是固执，和风暴对抗，而对方的力量却强过你，即便是微风我们也低头屈服，强风自然掠过我们头顶。”