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?
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."
The North Wind and the Sun have a game. They see a man walking on the road. The man is wearing a coat. The North Wind says, "I am strong. I can make him take off his coat."
The North Wind blows hard. The wind is very cold. The man holds his coat tight. He does not take off his coat. The North Wind cannot win.
Then, the Sun says, "Now, it is my turn." The Sun shines bright. The Sun is warm. The man feels hot. He takes off his coat. The Sun wins.
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."
Once upon a time, in a distant land, the North Wind and the Sun were arguing about who was stronger. They saw a traveler walking on the road and decided to have a contest. They agreed that whoever could make the traveler take off his cloak would be the winner.
The North Wind went first. He blew as hard as he could, trying to force the traveler to let go of his cloak. But the harder the North Wind blew, the tighter the traveler held onto his cloak, wrapping it even more closely around himself to stay warm.
After trying and failing, the North Wind gave up. Then it was the Sun's turn. The Sun began to shine warmly. Feeling the gentle heat, the traveler slowly loosened his grip on the cloak. As the Sun continued to shine, the traveler became so warm that he finally took off his cloak.
Admitting his loss, the North Wind accepted that the Sun was stronger. The Sun was then recognized as the more powerful force.
Once upon a groovy time, in the vast blue sky, the North Wind, who fancied himself as the ultimate superhero of gustiness, and the Sun, known locally as the “Bright Dude,” were bickering over who rocked harder. Just then, they spotted a traveler strolling down the road, his cloak fluttering like the grandest cape in a superhero movie.
North Wind, flipping his invisible hair, said, “Hey Sun, let’s settle this once and for all! First one to get that dude's cloak off wins the title of 'The Ultimate Powerhouse'!”
Sun, ever the cool cat, just winked and said, “You're on, Windy-boy!”
So, the North Wind, with all the gusto of a toddler on a sugar high, blew with all his might upon the traveler, thinking he’d whip the cloak off in one epic gust. “C’mon! Off you go, cloak!” But alas, the more he blew, the more the traveler hugged his cloak, almost like he was hugging a gigantic teddy bear. "Oh, come on!" grumbled the North Wind. "Why's he hugging it like it's his favorite pudding?!"
Seeing North Wind all huffed out, the Sun smirked, “Step aside, Windy. Let the master show you how it’s done.” And with the gentle charm of a thousand kittens, he beamed down, warming the traveler bit by bit.
Feeling the comfy warmth, the traveler sighed, “Ah, that's the good stuff!” and gradually loosened his cloak. Eventually, he flung it over his arm, twirling around like he was on a summer vacation.
North Wind, pouting, said, “Alright, alright, you win! But let’s be honest, who can resist your warm cuddles?”
The Sun, with a cheeky grin, replied, “Precisely, my windy friend. Sometimes, a warm hug does more than a gusty push!”
And so, in the grand game of "Whose Power Rocks the Most?" the Bright Dude aka the Sun was the undisputed champ! Everyone danced, laughed, and played on under the ever-smiling sun.
North Wind and Sun, in skies so blue,
Argued who’s strong—each thought they knew.
A traveler walked, his cloak pulled tight,
They made a plan to prove who's right.
"Who takes his cloak with skill or might,"
They said, "will win this friendly fight."
North Wind puffed up, "I’ll make him freeze,"
He blew a gust through leafless trees.
Yet tighter still, the man did cling,
His cloak as if attached by string.
"I've tried my best," North Wind confessed,
"Sun, take your turn, put him to test."
Sun beamed a smile, warmed up the land,
The man felt heat, as if by hand.
He loosened up his cloak with glee,
To feel the sun, as one feels free.
"Sun, you are stronger," Wind decreed,
"With warmth, not force, you've done the deed."
Sun simply smiled, spoke words so true,
"It’s often love that sees us through."
Word Finder
Game
Activity to see who wins.Road
Place where cars and people go.Wearing
Putting clothes on the body.Strong
Having a lot of power.Blows
Pushes air with force.Cold
Low temperature, not warm.Holds
Keeps something in hands.Tight
Held very close together.Shines
Gives off light and warmth.Warm
A little hot, not cold.
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.
Distant
Far away in space or time.Arguing
Disagreeing or having a heated discussion.Traveler
A person who is moving or journeying.Contest
A competition between two or more participants.Force
Physical power or strength used on something.Tighter
More firmly or closely held or fixed.Wrapping
Covering something completely with another material.Loosened
Made less tight or firm; relaxed.Recognized
Identified as being known or understood.Powerful
Having great strength or influence over something.
Groovy
Very cool or excellent. Bickering: Arguing about small, unimportant things. Gustiness: Strong, sudden rushes of wind. Fluttering: Waving or moving back and forth quickly. Gusto: Great energy, enthusiasm, and enjoyment. Alas: Used to express sadness or disappointment. Huffed: Breathed out loudly in annoyance. Smirked: Smiled in a way that shows you are pleased with yourself or know something others do not. Comfy: Very comfortable and cozy. Twirling: Spinning around quickly.
Argued
When two people say different things because they believe they are right.Traveler
Someone who goes from one place to another, usually far away.Cloak
A long, loose piece of clothing worn over other clothes to keep warm or dry.Gust
A sudden, strong blast of wind.Leafless
A tree or branch with no leaves on it.Confessed
When someone tells the truth about something they did or how they feel.Beamed
To smile very happily.Decreed
When someone important says a rule or decision that must be followed.Deed
An action that someone does, often showing a quality like kindness.Loosened
To make something less tight or free it from being tightly held.
Understanding Questions
- Who has a game?
- The man and the coat
- The North Wind and the Sun
- The Sun and the coat
- The man and the North Wind
- What does the man wear?
- A hat
- A coat
- Shoes
- Gloves
- What does the North Wind say?
- "I am cold."
- "I am warm."
- "I am strong."
- "I am weak."
- What happens when the North Wind blows?
- The man takes off his coat.
- The man holds his coat tight.
- The man feels hot.
- The man runs away.
- Who wins the game?
- The North Wind
- The man
- The coat
- The Sun
- 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?
- What was the main reason the North Wind and the Sun decided to have a contest?
- How did the traveler react to the North Wind's efforts to make him take off his cloak?
- Describe the Sun's approach in making the traveler remove his cloak.
- What can be inferred about the North Wind's method compared to the Sun's method?
- How did the North Wind respond after realizing the Sun was more powerful?
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.


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“The North Wind and the Sun” is one of the 25 illustrated fables in our book, 25 Fables for Fun Quality Time.
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