Are you someone who easily believes whatever others say?If yes, then this is a story you must read.
One hot summer day, the forest was silent while the sun beat down fiercely. A thirsty dog, with a dry and painful throat, was desperately searching for water. Looking at the cracked, parched ground, he cried out, “Water? I just need water.” Suddenly, in the distance, he saw a river sparkling under the sunlight.
Overjoyed, he used up all his remaining strength and ran as fast as he could until he reached the riverbank. The cool water felt like medicine for his dry throat, and he drank until his belly was full. The dog sighed with relief, “Oh… this must be paradise.” Then, a new thought entered his mind: since his body was dirty, if he bathed in the middle of the river, he would feel refreshed and regain his strength. But he did not know how deep the river was.
At that moment, he noticed a tall elephant with brown skin and long tusks, shaking off water after taking a bath. The dog politely approached and asked, “Brother Elephant, tell me— is the river deep? If I bathe in it, will I drown?”
The elephant smiled, showing his big teeth, and replied, “Deep? Not at all. The water only reaches my knees. Look at me— I was just bathing there. You can go too. There’s no danger at all.”
Trusting the elephant’s words, the dog jumped straight into the middle of the river. But within seconds, he was sinking, the water covering his head. His eyes widened in terror as he shouted, “Help! Help! I’m drowning!” He kicked his legs wildly, but no one came. Gasping and struggling, he managed to claw his way back to the riverbank and collapsed onto the sand.
After a while, when he could breathe again, anger overwhelmed him. He turned to the elephant and shouted, “You liar! You tricked me! You said the water was only up to your knees, but I almost died!”
The elephant calmly looked at him, munching on a few leaves, and replied,
“Oh, foolish dog… I did not lie to you. For me, the water really was only knee-deep. But are your legs as long as mine? You believed my words, but you forgot to use your own mind.”
The dog’s face turned red with shame. He realized he had jumped in without testing the water, without thinking for himself. From that day on, he promised never to make the same mistake again.
This story reminds us that everyone sees the world through their own eyes. The elephant told the truth, but his truth was not the dog’s truth. What is easy for one may be dangerous for another. Even when others give advice with good intentions, blindly following them can be risky. Other people’s experiences are valuable, but they cannot replace our own judgment.
True wisdom means listening carefully, but ultimately making thoughtful decisions for ourselves. Because in the end, it is our own legs that must carry us forward in life.
