Honesty is a rich legacy that leads to a fulfilling , free life. In one of William Shakespeare’s quotes, he said, “No legacy is so rich as honesty.” Honesty is not just about telling the truth. It’s about being real with yourself and others about who you are, what you want and what you need to live your most authentic life.
The story below teaches everyone that there is gain in being honest and a total loss in dishonesty. Desire to be honest, it’s a great value
The Story
The doctor who did not cure (an India folktale)
Gratitude is an essential attitude
An old woman had lost her eyesight completely. So she went to a doctor to help her see again and made a bargain with him in the presence of a few witnesses. The bargain was that: if he could cure her, he would be paid handsomely. But if he couldn’t, she would not be obliged to pay him anything.
The doctor accepted the deal happily. He had a special ointment with him. When it was applied in the eyes for a certain period of time, it restored the eyesight of anyone who was sightless. The doctor began to visit his new patient daily to apply the ointment. But knowing that she couldn’t see, he started stealing the valuables in the house, one by one.
When there was nothing more left to steal, he decided to cure her and demanded his payment. When the old woman recovered her eyesight, she saw that all her valuables had been stolen and guessed that the doctor was the thief. So, she decided to teach him a lesson. When the doctor came to demand his fees, she refused to pay him and said, “I still cannot see anything, so there is no reason as to why I should pay you.” The doctor was surprised. His ointment has never failed before, and he knew it worked this time as well. So, both of them went to the court.
The judge asked the old woman why she refused to pay the doctor. To this, she said: “The doctor is telling the truth. I did promised to give him money if I recovered my sight. However, if I remained blind, I was to give him nothing. Now he declares that he has healed me and so I should pay him. But I am still blind.”
Everyone in the court looked at the old woman in great surprise. “How can you say a thing like that? Everyone in the court can see that your eyesight has been restored.” Said the judge sternly. “Your honour,” replied the old woman. “I really cannot see. Before I lost the use of my eyes, I had seen a lot of valuable goods in my house. But now, though the doctor swears I am cured of my blindness, I am not able to see a single thing of value in my house.”
The judge agreed that the old woman was indeed still blind and let her go without a trial and she did not pay the doctor anything.
LESSON: Be truthful in your dealings with others.