Many years ago the devil decided to sell all the tools of his trade. He carefully displayed them in a glass display case for everyone to see. What a collection it was! There was a shiny dagger of Envy, and next to it was the hammer of Wrath. On another shelf lay the bow of Passion, and next to it the poisoned arrows of Gluttony, Lust and Jealousy were picturesquely placed. A huge set of networks of Lies was exhibited at a separate stand. There were also weapons of Dejection, Covetousness and Hatred. They were all beautifully presented and labeled with the name and price. And on the most beautiful shelf, separate from all the other instruments, lay a small, unsightly and rather shabby-looking wooden wedge, on which hung the label “Pride.” Surprisingly, the price of this instrument was higher than all the others combined. One passerby asked the devil why he valued this strange wedge so dearly, and he answered: “I really value it above all others, because it is the only tool in my arsenal that I can rely on if all the others fail.” And he tenderly stroked the wooden wedge. “If I manage to drive this wedge into a person’s head,” the devil continued, “it opens the door for all other tools.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru