story of the stonecutter

this is a story that was told to us at our high school graduation ceremony that i have never forgotten, and have actually shared with people quite a few times over the years. i hope that it means something to you too.

there was once a stonecutter who was walking down a rural road who peered inside of a merchant's house. within the house there were riches, fine cloth, and jewelry. the stonecutter, feeling that his job was not as great as that of a merchants wished to be the merchant. with a whim he was a merchant, but those lower than he despised his wealth, and not being happy he searched to be something else. then he saw an emperor with his train of servants galavanting down the street. the emperor was being held aloft in a covered carriage being carried down the road by his servants. the stonecutter thought to himself how powerful this man must be, much more rich and powerful than a mere merchant. the stone cutter wished to be the emperor and with a whim he was. being the powerful emperor was a fine thing, bothered by nothing.

however within the carriage he began to sweat and fatigue. he wondered what is this thing that made him do so was, he looked up and it was the sun. the stonecutter thought to himself, how powerful the sun is to be able to fluster the emperor, and he wished to be the sun. so he was transformed to the all powerful sun. but the people from the countryside cursed the sun for its blinding heat and scorching the land, making the crops unusable. then something came along and blocked the sun's rays. the stonecutter thought to himself, what could have the power to block the sun? it was a cloud. the stonecutter wished to have this strength so he was transformed into a cloud. the stonecutter found happiness being a cloud, giving the people shade. but something came along and pushed the cloud away. the stonecutter thought to himself, what could have the power to move something so powerful as i? it must be the wind! the stonecutter wished to be the wind and with a whim he was. the wind blew across the land being more powerful than anything, blowing the seas and moving any object.

however there was something that the wind could not move, a large stone. the stonecutter thought to himself, how powerful this stone is, more powerful than the wind! so the stonecutter wished to be the stone and he was. the stonecutter was content in being the stone, being the most powerful and harming no one. but then he felt something sharp chipping away at him...it was the ping of a chisle. he thought to himself, what could be more powerful than the mighty stone? he looked down to see the hands of a stonecutter.