A gentleman once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God.
Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby. Surprised, he asked the sculptor, “Do you need two statues of the same idol?”
“No,” said the sculptor without looking up, “We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage.”
The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage. “Where is the damage?” he asked.
“There is a scratch on the nose of the idol.” said the sculptor, still busy with his work.
“Where are you going to install the idol?”
The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high.
“If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?” the gentleman asked.
The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said,
“I know it and God knows it!”
Moral – The desire to excel should be exclusive of the fact whether someone appreciates it or not. Excellence is a drive from inside, not outside. Excel at a task today – not necessarily for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Very nice. A lesson for everybody.
Impressive story. Very good moral
This is a good moral. I love it.
Nice…
Awesome…very educative
God moral. Awesome……
The way of thinking of this gentleman & the way of reply of this sculptor is really great. It’s really appreciating us.
Moral good but should we be making idols of God?
Nice story. One can lie to others but not to self..
It’s really impressive… Excellence is drive from inside.. not outside…
Very nice. We always has to be honest with God.
I have learned a big, Big lesson. Thank you.
I really respect the old sculptor. Thanks a million for the awakening story:)
Nice story.
Appreciating the attitude of sculptor, however in modern world perfectionists cannot run longer. Due to strict target of cost and time always quality get affected.
That is being true to one’s self and especially with God.
This is not a story, it’s factual. This happened in Kumbakonam in Tamilnadu. Gentleman was a tourist from abroad. Sculptor is a dedicated worker making idols for temples in South India and abroad.