The Insolent Flame

Flame was a bad-mannered, impolite woman who always quarrelled with others and had disgusting behaviour. She insulted people quite often, scolded them for being different, and repudiated to see their point of view.

One fine morning, the insolent woman walked down the street when she saw a group of goons who fled away after snatching the money of a very aged man.
Flame was agitated. She yelled—not at the goons but at the old man. She told him that no one should be standing on the pavement and that he should go away.

The old man was a man of wisdom. He told her, "Senora, it seems to me that you are a very sad person. Have you ever wondered why you are so dejected? I think it is because you are so rude to everybody around you."

Flame was astounded. She gave deep thought to his words. Soon, she perceived that her rotten attitude made her disconsolate and that she had been treating others very clumsily.

From that day on, Flame changed her behaviour. She neither humiliated others nor picked fights with them. Instead, she endeavoured to be benevolent and sympathetic. Soon, she began to feel joy in her life.


The moral lesson is that one's own happiness is directly affected by the way one treats others. So, if one wants to be jubilant, one must be benign and compassionate towards others.