One day, a dispute occurred between the sun and the winds about which of them was stronger. The sun claimed strength, and the winds did not agree with her, saying that she moved the trees and swept the waters, and did what the sun could not do.
The dispute between them continued for a long time, and finally they agreed to conduct an experiment to prove that each of them was stronger by trying to take off the coat of one of the travelers on his mount in an open road. The winds started first and said to the sun, “Wait, oh sun, and see what I will do to the poor rider. I will attack him and take the coat he is wearing.” The winds began to blow with all the strength they had.
And whenever she increased her strength, the rider would hold his coat more so that he would feel warm and be able to continue walking. The winds were not satisfied with that and began to try again and again, every time blowing with more force and determination than the previous time.
The sky became cloudy, and the rider began to complain about the bad weather condition. The winds intensified until rain and snow fell on the poor rider. He tied his coat with a belt so that moisture and snow would not penetrate to his body and make him sick. Here, the winds realized that she would not be able to take off the coat with her strength and intensity.
The sun mocked the winds, smiled, and said to her, “You used strength and did not succeed. As for me, with gentleness and softness, I will make him take off the coat. Watch, oh wind, until you are sure of my strength.”
Indeed, the sun began to appear from among the clouds and send its warm rays. The weather improved a lot. The earth dried, and with it, the rider’s clothes dried. When he felt warm, he began to praise the sun and its warm rays. When he felt the rise in the sun’s temperature, he took off his coat by his own will and tied it to the horse’s fence.
Here, the calm sun looked at the angry winds and said to her, “Did you see what I did with gentleness and softness? I was able to make the rider do what I wanted from him with gentleness and tenderness, and I did not get angry or become angry like you.” Here, the winds realized that the sun’s gentleness was stronger than the winds’ anger.