Long ago in China, an emperor was looking for a successor. He decided to test the children of his kingdom. He gave each one a seed and said, “Whoever grows the best plant in six months will be the next emperor.”
A boy named Ping was very excited. He planted the seed carefully, watered it daily, and ensured it received sufficient sunlight. But weeks passed, and nothing grew. Six months later, while other children brought beautiful flowers and plants, Ping only had an empty pot.
The emperor looked at all the pots and then stopped at Ping’s. Smiling, he announced, “Ping will be the next emperor.” Everyone was shocked. The emperor explained, “The seeds I gave you were boiled and could never grow. Only Ping was honest enough to bring back the empty pot.”
Moral: Honesty and courage are more valuable than success. Being truthful, even when it is difficult, is the greatest strength.
