THE NORTH WIND and the Sun disputed as to which was the most powerful, and agreed that he should be declared the victor who could first strip a wayfaring man of his clothes. The North Wind first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, until at last, resigning all hope of victory, the Wind called upon the Sun to see what he could do. The Sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt his genial rays than he took off one garment after another, and at last, fairly overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in his path.
北風と太陽が、どちらが強いかで言い争い、旅人の服を先に脱がせたほうを勝ちとすることに決めた。まず北風が力を試し、力いっぱい吹きつけた。ところが、風が激しくなればなるほど、旅人はますますしっかりとマントを体に巻きつけた。とうとう北風は勝つ望みをすっかりあきらめ、太陽に、きみならどうするか見せてくれと呼びかけた。太陽は急に、ありったけの暖かさで照りつけた。旅人は、そのぽかぽかとした光を感じるやいなや、一枚また一枚と服を脱ぎ、ついにはすっかり暑さにまいって、裸になり、道ばたを流れる小川で水浴びをした。
Persuasion is better than Force.
説得は力ずくにまさる。