In one kingdom there were no wars for a long time. And where there are no wars, art flourishes. It is created by masters, and there were many of them in this kingdom. Where there are many masters, disputes are not uncommon. And where disputes are endless, a judge is needed. The judge was a man named Pool-Pugi. The people, who usually did not like to wander around the courts, willingly went to him. The reason was simple: the judge was a strict but fair man.
One day, master artists came to Pulu-Pugi with a request to judge their long-running dispute over whose painting was worthy of posterity. It was all the more difficult to resolve this dispute because each of the masters sincerely considered his creation to be perfection itself. The judge thought about it. The masters waited silently. Pul-Pugi told them: “You needed time to create the paintings.” It also takes time to comprehend what you have created - the judge must have one opinion. Therefore, it will take me three years to resolve this dispute.
The masters agreed and went about their business. We were looking forward to it. When three long years finally passed, Pul-Pugi ordered the fruits of the artists’ labors to be displayed in the square. People gathered. Each of the masters secretly admired his creation, like a mother with a child, not noticing its shortcomings. And people could not take their eyes off the paintings: each of them is good in its own way... - Call the executioner named Vek! - the judge firmly ordered.
The executioner appeared on the square and stood in front of Pul-Pugi: “Destroy all the paintings!”
The executioner hit the canvases like a hurricane. No one even had time to blink an eye, and the paintings had already turned into piles of garbage. Only one survived. The executioner was also a master of his craft, and the fact that the painting did not perish amazed him. With fierce determination, Vek rushed at her. Raised his all-crushing sword. The people froze. Vek raised the sword, but could not lower it. The painting was mightier than the sword! The picture was stronger than the executioner! - The strong are tested by fire! - said the judge and set it on fire himself.
When the smoke cleared and the ashes settled, the people saw: the picture is alive!.. - This is the best of the best! - said the judge.
The masters, having come to their senses, rushed at Pul-Pugi. He said: “You will always have time to hang me.” Wouldn't it be more useful to find out why the paintings died and why only one remained?
The most reasonable ones agreed with him. “Any of the paintings that perished today could have successfully served people.” But we chose the best of the best! In the picture, which neither the sword of the Age nor the heat of the fire captured, the most important thing is collected, which is gradually scattered in all the others. I acted cruelly with dozens of masters in order to save time in the future for tens of thousands of people - your children, grandchildren. Having enriched themselves with the heritage of their ancestors, they will also have time to create their own! I believe that I acted honestly and could not have acted differently. Now give me an execution worthy of my guilt.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru