Fr. Jose Kaimlett On the bank of a pond stood a sturdy oak tree. It challenged the heat of the hottest sun and bowed to no storm; its roots reached deep into the earth. By contrast, in the marshy ground not faraway grew a reed. It was weak and fragile and bowed before every wind.One day the oak tree told the reed, “I feel so sorry for you. It you had only grown up nearer to me, I would be glad to protect you from every storm.””That is very kind of you,” said the reed shyly, “but don’t worry about me. No matter how strong a storm blows up, I can take care of myself. If the wind gets very strong, I just bow myself down to the earth and let it blow by. I bend, but I don’t break.” But the oak shook its head defiantly and said, “I stand up to any storm; never would I think of bowing down.”Then that night a terrible storm came up and tore leaves and branches off the oak tree. But the reed just bowed itself down to the ground. The storm turned into a hurricane that overturned the oak, roots and all.After the storm the reed stood upright alongside its giant flattened neighbour.- La Fontaine
“Pride goes before every fall.”
“Those whom gods want to destroy, they first make them proud.” – Greek proverb.
“In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.” – John Ruskin
“Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.” – Thomas Merton
