Ananse decided he would gather all the wisdom in the world into one pot, and keep it, and then everyone would have to come to him.
Told to children, and to adults who need it.
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Why Wisdom Is Scattered Through the World
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Why Wisdom Is Scattered Through the World
Ananse decided he would gather all the wisdom in the world into one pot, and keep it, and then everyone would have to come to him.
He went everywhere collecting it. When the pot was full he sealed it and decided to hide it at the top of a tall tree, where no one would reach it. He tied the pot to his front, against his belly, and began to climb — and could not, because the pot was in the way of the trunk.
He tried again. And again.
His young son had followed him and was watching from below, and finally said: Father — why don't you tie it on your back?
Ananse looked at the pot. He looked at his son. He understood, in that moment, that he had not gathered all the wisdom in the world, because a child standing on the ground had some.
In fury he flung the pot down. It broke on the rocks, and the wisdom flew out in every direction and blew across the whole world — a little into this person, a little into that one, some to the far countries, some into the mouths of the very young.
And that is why no one is wise about everything, and no one is a fool about everything, and why you should listen to your children.
If you visit Ghana. Told to children, and to adults who need it.
Ananse decided he would gather all the wisdom in the world into one pot, and keep it, and then everyone would have to come to him.
He went everywhere collecting it. When the pot was full he sealed it and decided to hide it at the top of a tall tree, where no one would reach it. He tied the pot to his front, against his belly, and began to climb — and could not, because the pot was in the way of the trunk.
He tried again. And again.
His young son had followed him and was watching from below, and finally said: Father — why don't you tie it on your back?
Ananse looked at the pot. He looked at his son. He understood, in that moment, that he had not gathered all the wisdom in the world, because a child standing on the ground had some.
In fury he flung the pot down. It broke on the rocks, and the wisdom flew out in every direction and blew across the whole world — a little into this person, a little into that one, some to the far countries, some into the mouths of the very young.
And that is why no one is wise about everything, and no one is a fool about everything, and why you should listen to your children.