The Peacock Who Would Not Dance

The birds of the forest, wishing to crown a king, gathered to decide who among them was most fit to rule, and quickly settled on the peacock, whose brilliant, dazzling feathers seemed to mark him as clearly superior to every other bird present.

Just as the coronation was about to begin, a crow spoke up with a single objection. "Before we crown him," the crow said, "let us first see him perform the very thing he's famous for — his magnificent dance." The peacock, delighted to show off, spread his tail feathers wide and began to dance proudly before the entire gathering.

But in his enthusiasm, he forgot every sense of modesty, and the birds soon saw plainly that his display left him fully exposed and undignified in ways a true king never should be seen. Embarrassed on his behalf, the gathered birds quietly reconsidered, realizing that beauty alone, without the wisdom to know when to hold it back, was not enough to make a worthy ruler — and chose instead a bird known for calm judgment over dazzling display.