The Peacock and the Crane: A Lesson in True Value

One sunny morning, a peacock was dancing joyfully in the forest, proudly displaying his dazzling, colorful feathers. He admired himself and felt a surge of pride in his beauty. Just then, a crane landed nearby and greeted the peacock warmly.

They began chatting, but as they spoke, the peacock couldn’t help but glance disdainfully at the crane’s plain, white feathers.

Noticing this, the crane asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

The peacock smirked and said, “I’m looking at your dull, lifeless feathers. They lack any shine or beauty. Look at mine—so vibrant and captivating! Nature has been unfair to you. It’s a shame to see such a strong bird with feathers so unimpressive.”

The crane listened patiently and then replied, “Nature is never unjust. While you may have stunning feathers, they serve no purpose other than to attract attention. My feathers may lack color, but they give me the ability to soar high into the clouds—a gift you can only dream of.”

The peacock was taken aback and realized his mistake. He lowered his head in shame and said, “You are right. I let my pride blind me to what truly matters. Please forgive me for my arrogance.”

The crane smiled kindly and flew off into the sky, leaving the peacock humbled and wiser.

Moral: True value lies in abilities and qualities, not just outward appearances. Beauty without purpose is hollow.