The Wise, The Clever, The Intelligent

Once a king said to his minister, “I have noticed that my younger son enjoys being alone and is often lost in thought. His behavior worries me.”

The minister replied, “What is there to worry about, my lord? Common people, like crows, move about in crowds. However, the wise ones, akin to owls, prefer solitude.”

A few days later, the king expressed another concern. “My elder son has fallen in with a group of loafers. I am troubled by this.”

“Why do you worry, my lord? A clever man knows how to mingle with the riffraff and use them to his advantage, just as the eagle befriends kingfishers to procure fish,” said the minister.

“My dear minister,” the king responded, “One of my sons is wise, the other is clever, yet I fear I may be the only fool in this kingdom!”