The Stonecutter

Although he had enough to live, he often wished for more power and a better life.

One day, while delivering stones to a wealthy merchant's house, he saw the merchant living in luxury. The merchant wore fine clothes, had servants, and lived in a beautiful mansion.

The stonecutter sighed and said: 'How wonderful it would be to be a rich merchant!'

Suddenly, his wish was granted. He became a powerful merchant with servants and wealth.

But one hot day, he noticed the sun blazing down, making everyone uncomfortable, even him.

He thought: 'The sun is more powerful than a merchant. I wish to be the sun!'

Instantly, he became the sun, shining brightly over the world.

He felt powerful until a dark cloud came and blocked his light.

Frustrated, he said: 'That cloud is stronger than the sun. I wish to be a cloud!'

And so he became a cloud, floating across the sky.

Soon he poured rain over the land and felt strong again until the rain fell on a huge mountain that stood unmoved.

He said: 'That mountain is stronger than the cloud. I wish to be the mountain!'

Now he was a great mountain, towering over everything. He felt invincible.

But one day he felt a sharp tapping: tap, tap, tap.

At the base of the mountain, a stonecutter was cutting rocks from it.

The mountain realized: 'The stonecutter is more powerful than me.'

And so he wished to become a stonecutter again.