Sverdlov’s blog

Take a look at this sweet face!

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I read it in a chineese book few years ago, and still remember it. Thought it deserves to be better known.

It’s actually not a fairy-tale.

Long time ago, a teacher lived in the mountains with his students.

Once, after fasting for a few weeks, and walking all the time with just little rest, he ordered the students to cook some food - first for him, then for themselves.

One of the students took the assignment and started cooking rice - while the teacher, tired of walking and fasting, finally fell asleep.

While cooking, the student saw a live coal fallen in the pot - he got scared, thinking “I’ll spoil teacher’s meal”, quickly reached into the pot and swallowed the live coal.

His teacher woke up in the meantime, and saw from behind, that his student reached into the pot and eat something. When they sat around to eat, the teacher looked at his student and said “Did I say, that you are supposed to cook for me first, and then for yourselves? Why did you eat from my food before me?” - and the student answered humbly to his teacher: “Master, a live coal fell into the pot, and I got scared of spoiling your meal, and quickly reached in and swallowed it…”

The teacher sat quiet for a while, and said: “I’ve been studying people for long years, and now at last I understood that you cannot be sure what’s in the heart of a man”

Next time, before we judge someone, let’s remember this story.

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway!
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway!
If you are successful, you will win false friends and real enemies.
Succeed anyway!
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway!
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway!
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway!
People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
Help them anyway!
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway!