Cornithaca County

Family Fables – The Sun and the Wind

The Sun of Illumination and the Wind of Doctrine were disputing which was the stronger. Suddenly they saw a citizen coming down the road, and the Sun said: "I see a way to decide our dispute. Whichever of us can cause that citizen to shed his rights and beliefs shall be regarded as the stronger. I’ll begin." • So the Wind diminished and hid itself, and the Sun began to shine a persuasive illumination upon the citizen. But although he shined brighter and ever brighter, the citizen held up his rights and beliefs as a shield between them, till at last the Sun had to give up in despair. • Then the Wind came out and blew a relentless gale of denunciations upon the citizen, who was soon too battered and dazed to hold onto anything. • Moral: Force can be more useful than persuasion in establishing a new social system. • • Investigative material and previews of the book are viewable in my blog: “Rural Tompkins County – The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Credentials”