A great oak tree grew beside a river. Near it grew thin, soft reeds. The oak was proud of his strength.
"Look at me," said the oak. "I am tall and strong. You are weak. The smallest wind makes you bend down. You should be ashamed."
The reeds said nothing. Then one night a terrible storm came. The wind blew harder and harder. The reeds bent low to the ground and let the wind pass over them.
But the proud oak stood straight and fought the wind. At last there was a loud crack. The great tree broke and fell into the river. The soft reeds were still standing in the morning.
Moral: Sometimes it is wiser to bend than to fight.
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