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.”
一棵櫟樹長在河岸邊,遇到一場暴風,被連根拔起,拋到了河對岸。他落在了水邊生長的蘆葦中,對他們說:“這是怎么回事???你們這么脆弱,居然能夠平安度過風暴,而我呢,強大有力,卻被連根拔起丟到了河里?!碧J葦回答說:“你是固執(zhí),和風暴對抗,而對方的力量卻強過你,即便是微風我們也低頭屈服,強風自然掠過我們頭頂?!?/p>