Stone Soup
“Stone Soup” is a very old folktale, found in different variations around the world.
Three travellers, weary from their long journey, arrived at a quiet village as the sun cast its golden farewell upon the rooftops. Their cloaks were worn, their boots dust-laden, yet their spirits remained untouched by the burdens of the road.
Hunger gnawed at them, yet each door they knocked upon was met with reluctance. “There is little to spare,” the villagers said, shaking their heads. “Times are hard, and winter looms.”
The eldest traveller merely smiled, undeterred. He turned to his companions and said, loud enough for those near to hear, “Then it is fortunate indeed that we know how to make stone soup.”
A murmur ran through the gathered villagers. “Stone soup?”
With interest roused, the villagers filled a large cauldron with water and kindled the fire underneath in the village square. The second traveller carefully produced from his satchel a few special stones, carefully setting them in the cauldron with reverence.
As it all heated and bubbled, the third proclaimed, “This will be delicious. Although, of course, stone soup is even better with a carrot and an onion.” “Wait,” said one of the villagers. “I think I might have a carrot and an onion stashed away.” And he ran to get them and add them to the soup. “This will make even better stone soup,” said one of the travellers. “Of course, when we made it for the rich men, we added some barley and buttermilk, but you can’t wish for what you don’t have.” “Wait,” said another villager. “I think I might have a bit of barley and buttermilk hidden away.” And he added it to the soup. “When we made this for the king, he suggested adding a chicken,” said the travellers, “and that made for a truly royal soup.” “There might be a chicken in the farmyard,” says a third villager. And so it went with each villager adding a special garnish to the soup. When it was all cooked, it was indeed a truly wonderful soup.
“And to think,” marvelled the villagers, “how magical that such a soup was made from just a few stones!”
I read this in an article featured on Hacker News , and thought I’d rewrite it with a touch more flair. Anyhow it offers a crafty insight into human psychology and the art of persuasion, and I found it a lesson worth saving for later.