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The perfectionist sculptor

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.

{ 21 comments… add one }
  • vijayalakshmi.J July 3, 2020, 3:43 am

    Good story.

  • Arun kamble July 9, 2014, 6:04 am

    Great story

  • Rakesh February 9, 2014, 8:45 am

    Such stories are of utmost essence in today’s trend of publicity and reality shows…

  • Arifa January 4, 2014, 8:44 pm

    Great one

  • Anoop.K.Francis June 4, 2013, 8:23 am

    I want to be like that enthusiasm.

  • Shanmugasundaram March 22, 2013, 12:21 am

    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.

  • Noeme D. Catayas March 1, 2013, 2:52 am

    That is being true to one’s self and especially with God.

  • Jalish February 14, 2013, 2:00 am

    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.

  • Aye Chan Aung January 19, 2013, 6:35 am

    I really respect the old sculptor. Thanks a million for the awakening story:)

  • Esther January 17, 2013, 8:44 am

    I have learned a big, Big lesson. Thank you.

  • Sunil January 16, 2013, 6:01 am

    Very nice. We always has to be honest with God.

  • Kusuma Endumuri January 13, 2013, 9:06 am

    It’s really impressive… Excellence is drive from inside.. not outside…

  • Nayana January 11, 2013, 5:15 am

    Nice story. One can lie to others but not to self..

  • Pat January 11, 2013, 3:10 am

    Moral good but should we be making idols of God?

  • Ajay Kumar January 11, 2013, 2:35 am

    The way of thinking of this gentleman & the way of reply of this sculptor is really great. It’s really appreciating us.

  • Rani January 11, 2013, 1:36 am

    God moral. Awesome……

  • Abyb January 10, 2013, 4:36 pm

    Awesome…very educative

  • Arpeeta January 10, 2013, 1:57 pm

    Nice…

  • Esther January 10, 2013, 1:36 pm

    This is a good moral. I love it.

  • Bro. Thomas January 10, 2013, 12:57 pm

    Impressive story. Very good moral

  • Madhav January 10, 2013, 12:32 pm

    Very nice. A lesson for everybody.

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