The Archer and the Lion
Story by: Aesop
Source: Aesop's Fables
A skilled archer was walking through the forest, proud of his ability with bow and arrow. He carried himself with great confidence, knowing that few could match his precision and skill.
As he made his way along the forest path, he encountered a magnificent lion resting in a sunny clearing. The lion looked up at the archer with calm, golden eyes.
“Good day, archer,” said the lion politely. “I have heard of your reputation with the bow. They say you never miss your target.”
The archer puffed up with pride. “Indeed, that is true. My arrows always find their mark. There is no creature in this forest that I could not bring down with a single shot, should I choose to do so.”
The lion nodded thoughtfully. “That is quite impressive. Your skill with the bow is clearly extraordinary.”
“It is,” the archer agreed. “With this bow and these arrows, I am the master of the forest. What need have I for great strength or sharp claws when I can strike from a distance?”
The lion stood up slowly, his powerful muscles rippling beneath his golden coat. “You make an excellent point about the value of skill,” he said. “But tell me, archer, what happens when your quiver is empty?”
The archer looked down at his quiver, which indeed held only a limited number of arrows. “Well, I… I suppose I would need to retrieve my arrows or make new ones.”
“And what if your bowstring breaks?” continued the lion. “Or if your target is too close for you to draw your bow?”
The archer began to feel less confident. “Those are unlikely situations,” he said, though his voice wavered slightly.
The lion smiled gently. “Perhaps. But consider this: your skill is remarkable and valuable, but it depends on your tools and the right conditions. My strength, on the other hand, is always with me. I need no arrows to hunt, no bowstring to fight, no distance to be effective.”
The archer realized the truth in the lion’s words. “You are right,” he admitted. “My skill is great, but it has its limitations.”
“As does my strength,” the lion replied wisely. “I cannot strike at a distance as you can, nor can I hit a tiny target with perfect precision. We each have our gifts, and both have value.”
The two parted as friends, each with a new appreciation for the other’s abilities and a humbler understanding of their own limitations.
Moral: Every skill and ability has its strengths and limitations. True wisdom lies in recognizing both our capabilities and our constraints, and in respecting the different gifts that others possess.
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