Page 74 - Arrow Publications Pvt. Ltd.

“I have heard you are putting up an inscription

over the doorway,” he said.

“Can you tell me what the inscription reads?”

“Certainly. It’s a quotation from Confucius.
“It reads: Be honest at all times.”

The eldest brother went away chuckling at his
cleverness.

A little later, the second brother arrived there.
“Can you tell me what the inscription you are
going to put up over the doorway reads?” he

said to the monk.

“Everyone wants to know,” said the monk. “It
reads: Be honest at all times.”

“Is there any decoration around it?” asked the
second brother.

“The tablet has a flowery border.”

The second brother went away very pleased with himself. Hardly had he gone when the third
brother arrived there. He too enquired about the inscription and on being told what it was,

asked if there was any other writing on it.

“Only the donor’s name, Wang Lee, at the bottom,” said the monk.
The next morning, the three short-sighted brothers made their way to the monastery.

“There’s the inscription,” said the elder brother when they drew near the entrance.
“I can clearly make out the writing. It reads: Be honest at all times.”

“Your sight is better than I thought,” said the second brother. “But definitely, not better than

mine. Can you see the decoration around the inscription?”

“Decoration? What decoration?”

“There’s a floral decoration all around the tablet,” said the second brother triumphantly.
“Very good, very good,” applauded the youngest brother. “But can you see any other writing

on the tablet at the bottom?” asked the third brother.

“Other writing?” intoned the second brother, his face falling. “What other writing is there?”

“The name of the donor, Wang Lee,” said the youngest brother pointing to the tablet. “Can’t
you see it? It’s below the quote on the tablet.”

73 Arrow - English Plus-7