One man somehow injured his leg and had to use crutches. They helped him a lot when walking and turned out to be useful for many other things as well. He taught all members of his family to use them, and gradually they became part of everyday life. Over time, everyone began to strive to buy crutches for themselves. Some of them were made of ivory, others were covered with gold. Schools were opened to teach people how to use them, and university departments explored the higher aspects of this science. Only a very few people continued to walk without crutches. This was considered scandalous and ridiculous. Some people tried to prove that crutches can be used only occasionally, when necessary, but such people were immediately punished.
When it turned out that, as a result of the use of crutches for so many generations, very few people could walk without crutches, the majority “proved” to the minority that crutches were necessary. They said, "Here is a man. Try to make him walk without crutches. See? He can't." “But we walk without crutches,” opponents reminded them. “This is not true, it’s just your fantasy,” the cripples answered them.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru