The North Wind and the Sun
The powerful North Wind and the gentle Sun try to make a traveler take off his cloak to prove who is stronger. Which one will succeed?
Once upon a time, the North Wind and the Sun were having an argument.
"I'm the strongest," said the North Wind, puffing out his chest.
"Oh, really?" said the Sun with a warm smile. "I think I might be stronger than you."
Just then, they saw a traveler walking along the road. He was wearing a thick cloak, pulling it tightly around himself.
The North Wind had an idea. "Let's have a contest! Whoever can make that traveler take off his cloak will be the strongest."
The Sun agreed, and the challenge began.
The North Wind went first. He took a deep breath and blew as hard as he could. The wind roared and howled, rushing around the traveler, trying to tear the cloak away. But the stronger the North Wind blew, the tighter the traveler held onto his cloak. He wrapped it around himself to keep warm.
The North Wind huffed and puffed, but no matter how hard he tried, the traveler refused to let go. At last, the North Wind gave up, out of breath and frustrated.
"Now it's my turn," said the Sun.
The Sun smiled and began to shine. His golden rays touched the traveler, warming his face and shoulders. The traveler loosened his hold on the cloak. As the Sun shone brighter, the traveler wiped his forehead, feeling hot. Finally, he took off the cloak and carried it over his arm.
The North Wind sighed. “You win,” he admitted.
The Sun smiled. “Sometimes, kindness and warmth are stronger than force."
Featured in the Book Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, the North Wind and the Sun were having an argument.
"I'm the strongest," said the North Wind, puffing out his chest.
"Oh, really?" said the Sun with a warm smile.
"I think I might be stronger than you."
Just then, they saw a traveler walking along the road.
He was wearing a thick cloak, pulling it tightly around himself.
The North Wind had an idea.
"Let's have a contest!
Whoever can make that traveler take off his cloak will be the strongest."
The Sun agreed, and the challenge began.
The North Wind went first.
He took a deep breath and blew as hard as he could.
The wind roared and howled, rushing around the traveler, trying to tear the cloak away.
But the stronger the North Wind blew, the tighter the traveler held onto his cloak.
He wrapped it around himself to keep warm.
The North Wind huffed and puffed, but no matter how hard he tried, the traveler refused to let go.
At last, the North Wind gave up, out of breath and frustrated.
"Now it's my turn," said the Sun.
The Sun smiled and began to shine.
His golden rays touched the traveler, warming his face and shoulders.
The traveler loosened his hold on the cloak.
As the Sun shone brighter, the traveler wiped his forehead, feeling hot.
Finally, he took off the cloak and carried it over his arm.
The North Wind sighed.
“You win,” he admitted.
The Sun smiled.
“Sometimes, kindness and warmth are stronger than force."
كان يا مكان في قديم الزمان، كان هناك جدال بين الشمس والريح الشمالية. أرادا أن يريا من هو الأقوى. شاهدا الريحان مسافرًا يسير على الطريق وقررا اختبار قوتهما عليه. اتفقا على أن من يستطيع أن يجعل المسافر يخلع عباءته أولاً سيكون الأقوى.
بدأت الريح الشمالية أولاً. نفخت بكل قوتها لتجعل العباءة تنفلت من المسافر. لكن كلما نفخت بقوة أكبر، تمسك المسافر بعباءته بإحكام أكثر، ولفها حول جسده.
بعد أن حاولت الريح الشمالية كثيرًا دون جدوى، استسلمت. ثم جاء دور الشمس. أشرقت الشمس بلطف على المسافر، مما جعله يشعر بالدفء والراحة. واستمتع المسافر بأشعة الشمس الدافئة، فخلع عباءته.
عندما رأت الريح الشمالية هذا، عرفت أنها خسرت. تم إعلان الشمس بأنها الأقوى لأنها جعلت المسافر يخلع عباءته دون استخدام القوة.
Es war einmal, da stritten sich der Nordwind und die Sonne.
Sie wollten herausfinden, wer von ihnen stärker war.
Sie sahen einen Reisenden auf der Straße gehen und beschlossen, ihre Stärke zu testen.
Sie waren sich einig, dass derjenige, der den Reisenden dazu bringen könnte, seinen Mantel auszuziehen, der Stärkere sein würde.
Der Nordwind begann.
Er blies so stark er konnte, um dem Reisenden den Mantel wegzuziehen.
Aber je stärker er blies, desto fester hielt der Reisende seinen Mantel und wickelte ihn enger um sich.
Nachdem er sich sehr angestrengt hatte und trotzdem keinen Erfolg hatte, gab der Nordwind auf.
Dann war die Sonne an der Reihe.
Die Sonne schien sanft auf den Reisenden und machte ihn warm und behaglich.
Der Reisende genoss die warme Sonne und zog seinen Mantel aus.
Als der Nordwind das sah, wusste er, dass er verloren hatte.
Die Sonne wurde zur Stärkeren erklärt, weil sie den Reisenden dazu gebracht hatte, seinen Mantel auszuziehen, ohne Gewalt anzuwenden.
एक समय की बात है, उत्तर वायु और सूरज में बहस हो गई। वे यह जानना चाहते थे कि उनमें से कौन अधिक शक्तिशाली है। तभी उन्होंने सड़क पर चलते एक यात्री को देखा और तय किया कि वे अपनी ताकत को उसकी चादर उतरवाने में आजमाएँगें। शर्त यह थी कि जो पहले उस यात्री की चादर उतरवा देगा, वही सबसे ताकतवर होगा।
पहले उत्तर वायु की बारी आई। उसने अपनी पूरी ताकत से फूँक मारकर यात्री की चादर को उड़ाने की कोशिश की। लेकिन जितनी तेज़ी से वह हवा चलाती, यात्री उतनी ही मजबूती से अपनी चादर को पकड़ लेता और उसे और कसकर लपेट लेता।
काफी प्रयासों के बाद भी उत्तर हवा सफल नहीं हो पाई और उसने हार मान ली। अब सूरज की बारी थी। सूरज ने धीरे-धीरे अपनी गर्मी से यात्री को आराम महसूस कराया। सूरज की हल्की और मीठी धूप में यात्री को गर्म और आरामदायक महसूस होने लगा। कुछ ही देर में यात्री ने अपनी चादर खुद ही उतार दी।
यह देखकर उत्तर हवा को आभास हो गया कि उसकी पराजय हो गई है। सूरज को सबसे शक्तिशाली घोषित किया गया क्योंकि उसने बिना ताकत लगाए यात्री से चादर उतरवा दी थी।
Det var en gång då Nordanvinden och Solen grälade om vem som var starkast.
De såg en vandrare komma gående längs vägen och bestämde sig för att testa sin styrka.
De kom överens om att den som först kunde få vandraren att ta av sig sin rock skulle vara den starkare.
Nordanvinden började.
Den blåste så hårt den kunde för att få rocken att släppa från vandraren.
Men ju mer den blåste, desto hårdare höll vandraren fast i sin rock, och svepte den runt sig.
Nordanvinden kämpade allt vad den orkade men utan att lyckas. Så den gav upp.
Sedan var det Solens tur.
Solen sken mjukt och försiktigt på vandraren och värmde honom.
Han kände sig nöjd och belåten.
Vandringen i det sköna solskenet fick vandraren att ta av sig rocken.
När Nordanvinden såg detta, förstod den att den hade förlorat.
Solen blev förklarad som den starkare, eftersom den fick vandraren att ta av sig rocken utan att använda någon kraft.
从前，北风和太阳发生了一场争论。他们想知道谁的力量更强。正巧，他们看到一个旅行者在路上走过，决定用这个人来一较高下。他们约定，谁能让旅行者先脱掉外套，谁就是更强的。
北风先来。他用尽全力吹起了大风，试图把旅行者的外套吹掉。但是风越大，旅行者就把外套裹得越紧，把自己包裹得更严实。
北风努力了很久，但一点效果也没有，最后只好放弃了。接着轮到太阳了。太阳温柔地照耀着旅行者，让他感到温暖和舒服。在阳光的沐浴下，旅行者感到非常惬意，便脱下了外套。
看到这一幕，北风知道自己输了。他承认太阳比自己更强大，因为太阳不用任何武力，就让旅行者自愿脱掉了外套。
Kwathi ke kaloku, umoya waseMantla neLanga zazixambulisana.
"Ndim onamandla" kutsho umoya waseMantla, ezingomba isifuba.
"Utsho?" latsho iLanga ngoncumo olufedumeleyo. "Ndicinga ukuba ndim onamandla kunawe."
Kwathi kanye kunjalo babona umkhenkethi ehamba endleleni. Ezinkintshe ngomanduba wedyasi.
Kwe qatha icebo kumoya wasemantla. "Masikhuphisane! Okwaze ukwenza umkhenkethi akhulule idyasi, iyobanguye onamandla."
Lavuma iLanga, latsho laqala ukhuphiswano. Waqala umoya waseMantla, wakhokha amandla wavuthela kanobom Wavuthuza, wavunguza umoya ujikeleza umkhenkethi, uzama ukukrazula ibhatyi. Wavuthuza umoya, waqiniseka ukuxhasa ibhatyi umkhenkethi ezama ukuzifudumeza.
Wavuthela, wavunguza umoya waseMantla, kodwa umkhenkethi waxhasa idyasi yakhe. Ekugqibeleni, umoya waseMantla wancama ephelelwe ngumoya.
"Heke, lithuba lam kengoku" latsho iLanga lincumile, laqalisa ukugqatsa.
Laqhakaza ilitha leLanga lafika kumkhenkethi. Lathi ligqatsa iLanga, umkhenkethi wosula ibunzi esiva shushu. Ekugqibeleni, wakhulula idyasi wayithi tyu ecaleni kwakhe.
Wathyafa umoya waseMantla wanikezela. "Uphumelele."
Lancuma iLanga lathi “ngelinye ixesha, ububele nemfudumalo zinamandla kunonyanzelo."
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Word Finder
Argument
Talking angrily because of different opinions.Strongest
Having the most power or energy.Traveler
A person going from one place to another.Cloak
A long, loose coat without sleeves.Contest
A game or challenge to see who wins.Roared
Made a loud, deep noise.Howled
Made a long, loud crying sound.Frustrated
Feeling upset because something is too hard.Admitted
Said the truth about something, usually after losing.Force
Using strength or power to make something happen.
Understanding Questions
- What were the North Wind and the Sun arguing about at the beginning of the story?
- What did the traveler do when the North Wind blew strongly?
- How did the Sun make the traveler take off his cloak?
- Why did the North Wind give up in the contest?
- What happened to the traveler’s cloak at the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
- Why were the North Wind and the Sun having an argument?
- How did the North Wind and the Sun try to make the traveler take off his cloak?
- Can you think of a time when you or someone was kind and gentle, and it worked better than being forceful?
- What does this story teach us about how to convince or persuade others?
- How can we use gentleness and kindness in our relationships with family or friends?
Fable Quotes
A gentle touch has more power than a forceful push.
The mightiest power is not measured by force, but by the ability to influence.
Adaptability triumphs as gentle warmth persuades where forceful winds fail.
Just One More Fable
- Teamwork
- Strength
The Bundle of Sticks
When a farmer brings a bundle of sticks to his sons, they stop arguing. How did a simple bundle of sticks teach them?
- Gratitude
- Friendship
The King's White Elephant
Carpenters aid a wounded Elephant who then helps them; his son follows suit until the king claims the white Elephant and cares for it.
- Deception
- Wisdom
The Quack Frog
A boastful Frog claiming to be a physician is challenged by a Fox to cure his own appearance, leaving the Frog speechless and embarrassed.
- Patience
- Respect
Hound and Huntsman
A young puppy learns to listen and respect the experience of older dogs before becoming a true hunter.
Read it on paper, too
“The North Wind and the Sun” is one of the 25 illustrated fables in our book, 25 Fables for Fun Quality Time.
Every copy keeps stories free and ad-free for children, parents and teachers everywhere.
Get Your Book