Khalil Gibran (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Once I said to a scarecrow, “You must be tired of standing in this lonely field.”
And he said, “The joy of scaring is a deep and lasting one, and I never tire of it.”
Said I, after a minute of thought, “It is true; for I too have known that joy.”
Said he, “Only those who are stuffed with straw can know it.”
Then I left him, not knowing whether he had complimented or belittled me.
A year passed, during which the scarecrow turned philosopher.
And when I passed by him again I saw two crows building a nest under his hat.
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Source of the parable: The Madman: His Parables and Poems
Available at: The Project Gutenberg, retrieved: July 20, 2015
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Khalil Gibran, according to Wikipedia, is “the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Laozi” (retrieved: July 20, 2015).