The Man and the Satyr

A Man and a Satyr became friends. As they talked, the Man blew on his fingers.

“Why did you do that?” asked the Satyr.

“To warm them up,” the Man said.

Later, during dinner, the Man blew on his soup.

“Why now?” asked the Satyr.

“To cool it down.”

The Satyr stood up and said, “I can’t be friends with someone who blows hot and cold from the same mouth.”

Moral: Be consistent—people don’t trust those who say one thing and do another.

Translation and audio listening