Once upon a time, there was a Man and a Lion. They were having a debate about who was the strongest of them all. The Man insisted that he, and all other men, were much stronger than lions, not necessarily because of physical power, but due to their smarter minds.
"Come with me," said the Man confidently. "I will show you the evidence that proves I'm correct."
He guided the Lion to a public garden. There, he pointed towards a statue which showed Hercules, a man, triumphing over a Lion.
"See that?" the Man asked, proud of his proof. "That is a man overpowering a lion."
The Lion looked at the statue thoughtfully and then at the Man. He then replied, "Well, that's interesting. But remember, a Man carved that statue. If a Lion had made it, the statue would show a Lion with a Man under its paw."
The Man was taken aback. It hadn't occurred to him that the way we see the world might be shaped by who's telling the story.
One day, a man and a lion talk. They argue about who is stronger. The man says, "Humans are stronger. We are smarter."
"Come with me," says the man. "I will show you proof."
They go to a park. The man shows the lion a statue. The statue shows a strong man beating a lion.
"Look," says the man. "This shows a man beating a lion."
The lion looks at the statue. He looks at the man. "A man made this statue," says the lion. "If a lion made it, the statue shows a lion beating a man."
The man is surprised. He learns that the story depends on who tells it.
Once upon a time, a man and a lion were talking. They argued about who was stronger. The man said humans were stronger because they were smarter.
"Come with me," said the man. "I will show you proof."
He took the lion to a park and showed him a statue. The statue was of Hercules, a strong man, defeating a lion.
"Look," said the man proudly. "This shows a man beating a lion."
The lion looked at the statue and then at the man. "That's interesting," he said. "But remember, a man made that statue. If a lion made it, it would show a lion defeating a man."
The man was surprised. He had not thought that the way we see the world depends on who tells the story.
In a world, not too unlike this one, where talking statues are a thing and animals chat about strength contests over tea, a Man and a Lion were deep in discussion.
"Clearly," said the Man, puffing out his chest, "we humans are the bee's knees, the top banana, the pièce de résistance of strength, not because of these muscles," he flexed an underwhelming bicep, "but because we've got this." He tapped his head.
The Lion, yawning and stretching like it was a lazy Sunday, replied, "Do enlighten me."
Striding forward with all the enthusiasm of someone who'd just discovered toast can be both crunchy and soft, the Man declared, "Follow me! I've got something to show you."
So off they went, the Man leading the Lion to a public garden. Kids were playing, birds were singing, and somewhere, probably, a cake was being dropped. At the center of the garden was a grand statue of Hercules making a Lion tap out in a wrestling match.
Waving a hand like he'd just unveiled a magical trick, the Man said, "Ta-da! Behold, man's triumph over the lion!"
The Lion squinted, leaned closer, and after what seemed like a long contemplation, said, "Hmm, fascinating. But just a tiny observation: was this statue by any chance... carved by a man?"
The Man blinked, "Well, yes, but what's your point?"
The Lion, smirking like he'd just remembered where he hid his favorite toy, replied, "Well, if a Lion had been the sculptor, the statue would probably be of a lion giving a man a noogie or a wedgie or something equally undignified. You do realize the storyteller gets to pick the ending, right?"
And the Man stood there, mouth agape, realizing that perhaps statues shouldn't be his go-to argument. Then, looking at the Lion, he chuckled, "Well, I guess you have a point there! Shall we go grab some ice cream, or are you too worried about a brain freeze?"
The Lion rolled his eyes but smiled, "Only if you're buying. You know, since you humans are so clever."
And off they went, two new friends, walking side by side, each thinking they'd won the debate but content to let it lie. After all, ice cream awaited, and that's a victory everyone can enjoy!
Through a meadow, bright and wide,
Strolled a Man with Lion by his side.
"Who’s the strongest?" they’d debate,
Walking on, by fate's own gate.
"Human minds," said the Man with pride,
"Make us strong, with hands untied.
Though a lion's might is grand,
It's the human mind that rules the land."
"To the park!" the Man did claim,
To show the Lion a special frame.
A statue stood, bold and tall,
Of Hercules, making the Lion small.
"Look here," the Man said with glee,
"A man’s triumph, as clear as can be!"
But the Lion, with a smirk so sly,
Had a thought, and caught the Man's eye.
"If a lion had crafted that very art,
The scene would have a different part.
Man under paw, and lion above,
It all depends on the hand that wore the glove."
The Man paused, his pride a bit sore,
Realizing there was so much more.
Each tale's twist, each story's bend,
Depends on who tells it, from start to end.
Talk and disagree about something.
More powerful than another person or thing.
More clever or intelligent.
Something that shows something is true.
A carved or made figure of a person or animal.
Hitting and winning over someone.
Makes something visible or clear to others.
Is influenced or decided by something else.
Says or speaks something to someone.
Feeling amazed or shocked by something unexpected.
Talked angrily with different ideas.
Having more power or force.
People, not animals.
Something that shows the truth.
A carved figure of a person or animal.
A very strong man in old stories.
Winning against someone or something.
Feeling happy about something you did.
Is decided by something else.
Feeling shocked by something unexpected.
Who argues about who is stronger?
Where do the man and the lion go to find proof?
What does the man show the lion in the park?
What does the statue show?
What lesson does the man learn?
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