In a study, someone looked at an inkwell on the desk and said, “This bottle is truly magical! How many wonderful things can it write? No one can guess what will happen next.”
The inkwell heard this and said happily, “You’re absolutely right! I often think the same thing. Every time someone dips a pen in my ink, I have no idea what will be written next. Sometimes just a single drop of ink can fill half a page with words, telling many interesting stories. I really think I’m quite amazing!”
It turned to the goose feather pen and the other stationery items beside it and said, “The words that flow from me include poets’ works, characters’ images, various emotions, humor, and natural landscapes. I don’t even understand why I can write these things. Although I don’t know much about nature, it’s as if these things are all hidden inside me.”
“You’re right,” replied the goose quill pen. “But don’t be too proud. You’re just providing a little liquid. It’s me who does the writing, not you. Many people’s understanding of poetry is just like yours. They only know the surface and don’t understand the meaning behind it.”
The inkwell retorted indignantly, “You don’t understand anything!You work hard every day and are exhausted, yet you dare to call yourself a poet? You are nothing but a tool. I have seen many pens like you, whether made of goose feathers or steel, and they are all at my service. When the master returns, he will continue to use me to write new things. I wonder what he will write with me next time.“
”Ink, of course!” replied the goose feather pen.
The story after the concert
That evening, the poet returned. He had just attended a concert and listened to a famous violinist play. The music was very moving, sometimes like raindrops falling on the ground, sometimes like birds singing on tree branches, and sometimes like the sound of wind blowing through the forest.
The poet was mesmerized. He felt that it was not just the sound of the instrument, but the soul itself speaking. He thought that a person’s heart could cry like this, but this cry was beautiful, like the voice of a gentle woman.
He noticed that it was not just the strings that were making the sound, but the body of the violin and the bow as well. The performance made it seem as if the violin and the bow were moving and singing on their own.
Yet people had forgotten the true artist—the one who controlled everything with his hands. They only saw the beautiful melodies produced by the instrument, but did not see the effort and talent of the performer behind it.
The poet was deeply moved and wrote the following words:
“The violin and the bow always boast about their performance, but this is a foolish thing to do. We humans often make the same mistake. For example, poets, artists, scientists, and generals all like to boast about how great they are. In truth, we are all just tools, and true power comes from a higher existence. We should give glory to the great, unseen creator, not to ourselves.”
He wrote this story as a fable called “The Artist and the Musical Instruments.”
The Pen and the Inkwell’s Argument
When only the pen and the inkwell were left in the room, the pen said proudly, “Did you hear that? The words I just wrote were wonderful! Everyone was moved when the master read them aloud.”
The inkwell retorted, “That was my doing! Do you think those ideas came from you? I just used your hand to write them down. And you know what? I was actually mocking you self-important creatures. You didn’t even realize it, did you?”
“Hmph, you’re just a container for ink!” the pen said angrily.
“You’re just an ordinary pen!” the inkwell retorted.
They both thought they had spoken very well and were very satisfied with themselves, so they each went to sleep quietly.
But the poet was still thinking. His mind was filled with ideas, flowing like music, rolling like pearls, and blowing through the forest like the wind. In these thoughts, he felt his inner self and seemed to see a ray of light from the depths of the universe.
Finally, he said:
“All glory belongs to the great creator.”
The truth behind the story
On the surface, this story is about an argument between a pen and an inkwell, but it actually teaches a deeper truth: we are all just tools, and it is the power or inspiration behind us that truly creates miracles.
Just as a violin and a bow are only tools, it is the performer who truly moves the audience with music. Similarly, a pen and an inkwell are only tools, and it is the poet who writes moving words.The poet also reflects that even he is just an expression of the inspiration of the universe.
In the story, the pen and inkwell both think they are the most important and argue endlessly with each other. This is actually a satire on the habit of some people in real life to boast about themselves. We often think we have accomplished great things, but we forget the support, environment, inspiration, and even luck behind them.
What can we learn from this?
- Don’t be overly arrogant
Many people achieve a little success and think they are omnipotent. But in fact, we all have limitations and depend on the help of others or the outside world. Modesty is a virtue and a form of wisdom. - Recognize the importance of cooperation
No one can accomplish everything alone. Just as a pen needs ink, ink needs a pen; they are indispensable to each other.In life, we must learn to appreciate the contributions of others and be grateful to those who quietly support us. - Respect the source of inspiration and creativity
Creativity does not appear out of thin air. It can come from life, experience, learning, and even our inexplicable intuition. We must cherish these inspirations and accept them with an open mind.
- Maintain a grateful heart
No matter what you have achieved, remember to thank those who have helped you, thank this era for the opportunities it has given you, and thank you for your abilities. True success is knowing how to be grateful and give back to society. - See your place in the world clearly
We are all just specks of dust in the universe, but we can also shine and give off heat in our roles. The key is to recognize your place, not exaggerate yourself, and not underestimate yourself.
Summary
This adapted version of “The Pen and the Inkwell” is no longer just a fairy tale, but a parable about self-awareness, humility, and cooperation.
It tells us that success is not the achievement of one person or one thing, but the result of cooperation between many parties. When we learn to be grateful, cooperative, and humble, we can go further and see higher.
So, the next time you feel you’ve done a great job, take a moment to look back: Who gave you the opportunity? Who supported you behind the scenes? Who provided the resources you needed? You’ll discover that you’re not fighting alone.
If needed, I can further optimize this article for different platforms (such as WeChat Official Accounts, Zhihu, or blogs).
