- Joined
- Mar 3, 2022
- Location
- Shakelton Crater
The King’s New Clothes (short form)
Once upon a time, there was a very vain King who cared about nothing more than wearing the finest outfits. One day, two swindlers arrived in his kingdom claiming they could weave a magical fabric so extraordinary that it was invisible to anyone who was stupid or unfit for their position.
Intrigued—and eager to prove his court was wise—the king hired them.
The swindlers pretended to work on invisible looms, asking for silk and gold thread, which they secretly pocketed. When the king sent ministers to check on the progress, each saw nothing at all—but, afraid of being judged foolish, they praised the “fabric” as magnificent.
Finally, the king himself went to see it. He saw nothing too. But not wanting to seem unworthy, he declared it splendid. The swindlers mimed dressing him in the invisible garments.
The king then paraded through the city wearing nothing at all. His subjects, terrified of appearing stupid, applauded the “beautiful clothes.”
Until a small child shouted, “But he isn’t wearing anything!”
The crowd slowly began to murmur the truth. The king realized he had been fooled—but, too proud to admit it, he continued marching as if clothed in glory.
Moral: Fear of looking foolish can make people deny obvious truth—and sometimes it takes a child to speak it.
Once upon a time, there was a very vain King who cared about nothing more than wearing the finest outfits. One day, two swindlers arrived in his kingdom claiming they could weave a magical fabric so extraordinary that it was invisible to anyone who was stupid or unfit for their position.
Intrigued—and eager to prove his court was wise—the king hired them.
The swindlers pretended to work on invisible looms, asking for silk and gold thread, which they secretly pocketed. When the king sent ministers to check on the progress, each saw nothing at all—but, afraid of being judged foolish, they praised the “fabric” as magnificent.
Finally, the king himself went to see it. He saw nothing too. But not wanting to seem unworthy, he declared it splendid. The swindlers mimed dressing him in the invisible garments.
The king then paraded through the city wearing nothing at all. His subjects, terrified of appearing stupid, applauded the “beautiful clothes.”
Until a small child shouted, “But he isn’t wearing anything!”
The crowd slowly began to murmur the truth. The king realized he had been fooled—but, too proud to admit it, he continued marching as if clothed in glory.
Moral: Fear of looking foolish can make people deny obvious truth—and sometimes it takes a child to speak it.
