Ben Franklin’s Quote

This quote is a reminder that outward appearances can often be deceiving and that we should not make assumptions about someone based solely on what we see.

A parable that illustrates this concept in a magical story

King Trygve

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a wise old master named Ben and his young apprentice, Kia. Kia was a curious student who loved learning new things, and he was particularly fascinated by old Ben’s wisdom and the stories he would tell.

One day, as they were taking a walk through the kingdom, Kia asked old Ben, “Master, why do people judge others based on their appearances?” Old Ben smiled and replied, “Ah, my young apprentice, that is a great question. Allow me to tell you a story that will help you understand.”
 
And so, Old Ben began to tell the story of a kingdom that was not unlike their own. The kingdom was ruled by king Trygve, who was known for his wisdom and fairness. However, the people of the kingdom were not like their king Trygve.

They were quick to judge others based on their appearances, and they would often make assumptions about someone’s wealth and piety based on the clothes they wore or number of gold rings they had on their fingers.

One day, a great threat to the kingdom arose in the form of a dragon that terrorized the land and threatened to destroy everything in its path.

King Trygve called upon the bravest knights in the kingdom to come forward and slay the dragon. Many knights stepped forward, but none were successful in defeating the beast.

Then, a stranger entered the kingdom. Leif was a young man, dressed in simple clothing, and he carried no weapons or armour.

The townspeople whispered amongst themselves, judging Leif and assuming he was not brave or capable enough to defeat the dragon.

However, Leif made his way to the dragon’s lair and emerged victorious. Leif had used his wit and cunning to defeat the beast, and the kingdom was saved.

King Trygve was overjoyed, and he asked Leif to come forward and receive his reward. Leif revealed that he was actually a knight in disguise, sent to the kingdom to help in its time of need.

The people of the kingdom were ashamed of their hasty judgments, and they realized that they had misjudged Leif based on his appearance.

King Trygve, recognizing the error of the people’s ways, made a decree that from that day forward, the kingdom would judge people based on their character and actions, and not by their appearance.

When old Ben finished the story, he looked at Kia and said, “You see, my young apprentice, the quote ‘Don’t judge of men’s wealth or piety, by their Sunday appearances’ is a reminder that we should not make assumptions about others based on what we see.

Just like the people of the kingdom in my story, we must be careful not to judge others based on their appearances. Instead, we should try to see the person for who they truly are, and judge them based on their character and actions.”

Kia was thoughtful for a moment and then said, “Master, how can I make sure that I don’t judge others based on their appearances?” Old Ben smiled and replied;

“To avoid judging others based on their appearances, you must cultivate an open mind and a compassionate heart. You must learn to see the good in others, even when it may not be immediately apparent. And, you must be patient and take the time to get to know people, rather than making assumptions about them.”

Kia took his old master’s words to heart, and from that day forward, Kia made a conscious effort to see the good in others and to judge people based on their character and actions, rather than their appearances.

Over time, Kia became known throughout the kingdom as a wise and compassionate young man, just like his old master, Ben.

And so, the story ends, but its lesson lives on. Kia never forgot the wisdom that his old master had imparted to him, and he continued to spread the message to others throughout the kingdom.

Kia would tell the story of the kingdom and Leif, the knight in disguise, reminding everyone that appearances can be deceiving and that it is important to judge people based on their character and actions.

So, next time you find yourself tempted to judge someone based on their appearance, remember the words of the wise old master Ben, “Don’t judge of men’s wealth or piety, by their Sunday appearances,” and choose instead to look beyond appearances and see the person for who they truly are.
 
The end

The moral of this story is a reminder that it is important to keep an open mind and not make hasty judgments about others. By doing so, we can have a more compassionate and understanding society, where people are judged based on their character and actions, rather than their appearance.

Extract from the book; Master Ben and Kia the Young Apprentice: A book on moral values inspired by Ben Franklin – Volume 3

Ben-Kia.com