The Wisdom of the Owl

In a distant forest, the animals were constantly arguing—each claiming to be the smartest and most worthy of leading the others. The lion roared his strength, the fox boasted of his tricks, and the crow bragged about his cleverness. Peace in the forest began to fade.

High in an old tree lived an elderly owl named Hala. She was quiet and calm, always observing, always thinking. She didn’t shout or seek attention. Instead, she spent her time reading old scrolls and reflecting on the forest’s troubles.

One night, as the quarrel between the lion, fox, and crow grew worse, one animal suggested, “Let’s ask the owl. Let her decide who is truly the wisest.”

They climbed up to her tree and asked, “Who among us is the smartest?”

Hala looked at them with her calm eyes and said:

“The truly wise one is not the loudest, nor the one who boasts. Wisdom lies in knowing when to speak, when to think, and when to help others—without expecting anything in return.”

Silence fell. The animals realized how foolish their pride had been. From that day on, the owl became the forest’s trusted advisor, and her wisdom guided them all.