Story illustrating the Noble-mindedness of Men
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Sadi and Edwards, A. Hart
A dog bit the leg of a hermit with such violence that venom dropped from its teeth, and the poor man could not sleep all night through pain.
His little daughter chided him, saying: “Hast thou not teeth as well?”
The unfortunate parent wept, and then smilingly replied: “Dear child! Although I was stronger than the dog, I restrained my anger. Should I receive a sword-blow on the head, I could not apply my teeth to the legs of a dog.”
One can revenge oneself upon the mean, but a man cannot act like a dog.