Once upon a time, there was a story about Pachacutec having to choose between two young men, potential rulers of a province in the Inca empire. Both were noblemen, wise and good, and he couldn’t decide between the two. However, he came up with a clever trick and said:
“Let’s use magic. Here in my hand, I have a small statue. The one of you who sees it and can describe it will be chosen by the gods to rule this people.”
The first one started describing, envisioning the statue that the Inca had in his hand. The other one said: “Forgive me, sir, but I see nothing in your hand. Even if I lose the power over the land you promised me, I cannot lie.”
The Inca chose the latter as the king, saying that the one who, risking all his possessions, holds on to the truth and says he sees nothing more than what is there is an honorable man. The one who, excited by the possibility of gaining honors, begins to speak nonsense and see what does not exist, is a man who cannot rule.
Chosen by Nataša Žaja