Three brothers were bestowed with the capacity of walking in the air, by the Lord, after performing a lot of good deeds. The boon was received by them with glee and they enjoyed their new power for sometime. Now they did not need the support of earth below their feet for moving around. They could go wherever they desired by just walking in the air. Days were wonderful for them.
They were walking in the sky and enjoying the sight on the ground on a sunny morning. The greenery on the earth was enchanting. Freshly bloomed colourful flowers added to the beautiful sight. They suddenly saw an eagle flying fast below their feet. They also saw a snake moving on the ground. The eagle flew down and lifted the snake. The eldest brother felt he should save the life of the snake as otherwise the eagle would eat it. "Leave the snake", he shouted at the eagle. The eagle was startled and left the snake. He got the benefaction of saving the snake's life, but also got the curse of snatching eagle's food. He immediately lost his capacity to walk in the air and fell down on the ground.
The middle brother realised the folly of his elder brother. He did the wrong of snatching the eagle's food, the middle brother reasoned. To correct that mistake he shouted at the eagle. "Don't leave the snake. Catch it", he said. Eagle was pleased to catch the snake and soared into the sky with the snake now firmly clasped in its feet. The middle brother got the benefaction of giving food to the eagle, but also got the curse of taking the snake's life! He too immediately lost his capacity to walk in the air and fell down on the ground.
The youngest brother saw the plight of his two elder brothers. He decided not to interfere with things not connected with him. He continued to walk in the air and moved away.
The middle brother realised the folly of his elder brother. He did the wrong of snatching the eagle's food, the middle brother reasoned. To correct that mistake he shouted at the eagle. "Don't leave the snake. Catch it", he said. Eagle was pleased to catch the snake and soared into the sky with the snake now firmly clasped in its feet. The middle brother got the benefaction of giving food to the eagle, but also got the curse of taking the snake's life! He too immediately lost his capacity to walk in the air and fell down on the ground.
The youngest brother saw the plight of his two elder brothers. He decided not to interfere with things not connected with him. He continued to walk in the air and moved away.
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The concept of "Reasonable or Prudent Man" is often used in tort and criminal law. Tort itself is defined as a wrongful act, other than breach of trust or contract, that results in injury (legal injury included) to another's person, property or reputation etc. A reasonable or prudent man is a hypothetical person used as a legal standard in deciding issues, as to whether someone's actions are proper or with negligence.
People living in civilised societies are expected to interact with other people in community in various capacities. While dealing with others and their properties, any person is expected to display a certain level of care and standard of behaviour. A "Reasonable or Prudent Man (or man of ordinary prudence)" exercises average care, skill and conduct that the society expects from its members. The conduct of such a person in the given circumstances serves as a standard for deciding the actions of an accused before a court of law.
This concept of "Man of Ordinary Prudence" is especially used frequently in teaching as well as examining the conduct and actions of Bankers, while dealing with their customers and their properties entrusted to bankers during the course of business.
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In this background, all people in the society can be classified into three groups:
- The first group comprises persons who fall short of the standards expected of a "Man of ordinary prudence". They are "Fools". A Fool is a silly or stupid person who lacks judgement or sense. His level of behaviour always falls well short of the level exhibited by a man of ordinary prudence. Hence he is much less than a reasonable man.
- The second group comprises persons who display behaviour matching with the hypothetical "Man of ordinary prudence". They are the common people with average level of judgement and behaviour.
- The third group consists of "Wise People". A wise man has the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is just or right. He always displays a level of behaviour that is much above the level exhibited by a man of ordinary prudence. His wisdom is evident in the type of decisions he takes and in his actions.
Learning levels are directly linked to the above classification:
- A fool does not learn even from his own mistakes. He keeps repeating the same mistakes and suffers their consequences.
- A man of ordinary prudence learns from his mistakes. He does not repeat his mistakes.
- A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. He observes his environment and avoids committing mistakes done by others, thereby benefiting from the experiences of others around him.
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The youngest brother in the story above belonged to the third category. He was indeed wise. He learnt from the mistakes of his brothers and avoided the effects of their follies!
Well narrated with the help of an interesting story.
ReplyDeleteLet us learn from our mistakes and also from that of others.
Let us know from others mistakes, rather than learning from our own mistakes, which sometimes are not only costly but many a time SUISIAL.
ReplyDeleteSo…..I too believe….
ReplyDeleteIf you want to learn fast, learn from others mistake. However, if you want to learn from your own mistakes, you can, but it will be cost you time & money.
Based on my belief let me take the story to the next level.
Both the brothers learnt from their mistakes. It took them some time to regain their capacity to walk in the air, by then the youngest one was bestowed with the capacity to fly in the air!!!
With due respect Sir, I cannot entirely agree to the allegory.
ReplyDeleteAs a community within civic society or an organisation, citizens carry certain responsibilities - both individual and collective. Prudence and reasonableness is indeed necessary in the exercise of such responsibilities. Individual responsibility is limited to conduct of one's own affairs and commitments as well as performing duties expected of individuals - such as paying one's taxes honestly. If we take something like a "swachh bharat" effort or "society against corruption" or "public safety" , it is a collective responsibility. Citizens are expected to actually call out aberrations even if such events do not directly affect the individual concerned. Further there are issues where the 'wiser' folk are expected to participate in a responsible manner such as a citizen awareness group that could provide recommendations for improvement.
Every individual in a team cannot entirely be self centered or apathetic to his surroundings or colleagues in the guise of being 'prudent or reasonable'. Of course there are times when one needs to think before interfering in matters that are complex or where one's understanding falls short. We all have a responsibility to influence our surroundings with the caveat that we have to influence responsibly. This is what defines the line between responsible influence and imprudent interference.
Performance of civic duties and influencing the surroundings positively is indeed the duty of the wise. Otherwise there is no purpose and direction to the wisdom of the wise.
DeleteWhat has been mentioned in the post is limited to the natural cycle of life.
As regards performance of civic duties are concerned, the wise cannot say that he is not concerned with them. He has a far higher responsibility than others in this field. He cannot separate himself from these duties as he is directly connected with these responsibilities and consequences.
The story is very absorbing and a good moral lesson. The meaning of Tort has been brought out well and will be useful for dissemination in the Banking Law class. Well structured with an effective communication.Kudos to your writing skills.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I like the way you relate fables to modern-day life and show their continued relevance.
ReplyDeleteWell written blog, as always!
ReplyDeleteQuite interesting, we get lot of opportunities in our life to improve and correct our mistakes by our own experience and also by seeing the happenings around us. Life is full of learning, well narrated as always with good example.
ReplyDeleteThe fusion of the law, behaviour and the consequences is narrated so well by Keshav. I loved reading it more than once. We sometime forget to remember our own mistakes or take the risk of doing it again. UR.......
ReplyDeletenice one sir
ReplyDeleteYour writing skill is 'amazing'.
ReplyDeleteR Jagannathan
Well narrated, but there is contrast.
ReplyDeleteA wise man learns from the mistakes of others. He observes his environment and avoids committing mistakes done by others, thereby benefiting for self from the experiences of others around him but his endeavour is not benefiting to the Society.
Many wise men have recorded their learning and wisdom in their chronicles for use of future generations. Therefore, there is benefit to the society also!
DeleteVery interesting way of explaining the expected role of citizens in the society. As commented by some, wise man has a bigger role in the betterment of the nation and he should be using it in full without selfish motive.
ReplyDeleteThe youngest brother didnt put his nose at all letting things to go as it should and later when he saw his brothers loosing their boon,he again continued in old fashion but this time with a learning to let things go as designed by nature which is great as it requires patience and bit utilisation of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteWell written anecdote
ReplyDeleteNice one sir
ReplyDelete