One day, the Wind and the Sun argued about which of them was stronger. The Wind boasted about its mighty gusts, while the Sun quietly knew that warmth had its own kind of power.

They saw a man walking down the road wearing a thick coat. The Wind said, Let us have a contest. Whoever can make that man take off his coat first is the stronger one.

The Wind went first and blew as hard as it could, whistling and pushing at the man. But the harder it blew, the tighter the man wrapped his coat around himself, afraid of the cold.

At last the Wind grew tired and gave up, and it was the Sun's turn. The Sun shone down gently and warmly, little by little, until the man grew so warm that he happily took off his coat and sat down to rest in the shade.

The Wind finally understood that kindness and calm can achieve what force and roughness cannot. Sometimes a gentle word or a warm smile is more powerful than shouting or pushing.

The Lesson: Gentleness and kindness are often more powerful than force.