The Tale Of Two Pebbles | Motivational Stories
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The Tale Of Two Pebbles

Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer’s beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer’s debt if he could marry his daughter.

Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer’s field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Take a moment to ponder this. What would you recommend that the girl do?

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

“Oh, how clumsy of me!” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”

The moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty. The girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

By Edward de Bono

Most problems do have a solution, sometimes we just need to think in a different way.

{ 47 comments… add one }
  • Rin April 16, 2023, 9:32 pm

    I think the punchline of this story depends on money-lender’s honesty. What would she do if the lender could admit his dishonesty?
    And i wonder why she couldn’t ask him to make it sure that there were two black and white stones? And then, play the fair game?

  • Brylle March 6, 2023, 6:28 am

    Hello it was a beautiful story

  • Philomen Peters February 20, 2022, 3:24 pm

    If we trust God he always finds away and fix our problems.

    • Garv bajpai December 8, 2022, 5:28 am

      Ya bro right💯

  • anuoluwapo January 5, 2022, 11:48 am

    interesting !I love this story

  • ABDURLA February 3, 2021, 4:24 am

    This is about the smartest move I have read in a very long time. More importantly , GOD got her back…

    • Nash November 23, 2023, 9:46 am

      Nice story.

  • Tosin May 3, 2020, 1:25 pm

    Honesty if i am in that girl shoe’s i will not no what to do, very inspired story

  • Nidhi Dubey February 26, 2020, 7:00 am

    sometime complex situation have the solution we need to think in different ways.

  • Amar December 29, 2019, 8:43 pm

    Extraordinary story simple and thought provoking… What a spontaneous spark in mind!!!

  • pravin goswami October 4, 2019, 4:19 am

    very nice story.

  • jenny June 1, 2017, 7:43 am

    Haha. .this girl is smart….very enlightening.

  • Shivali July 22, 2016, 9:38 am

    A motivated awesome story

  • Oduro May 14, 2016, 4:05 am

    Nice story……..very educative.

  • Rohidas Atole April 22, 2016, 2:25 pm

    very nice story….

  • MK March 31, 2016, 7:29 pm

    Very good, may you be well and happy, may be at ease and free from anxiety. Mk

  • Ezechukwu blessing c March 24, 2016, 5:31 am

    Interesting

  • Qusaiy Mulla January 27, 2016, 5:55 am

    A very good lesson please keep posting

  • Andrew December 16, 2015, 12:11 pm

    This story tells you that you can be wise and smart in any situation. This story makes you sit on the edge of your seat and it makes you caught in it soaring like an eagle above watching it.

  • Kyle Dittman December 16, 2015, 12:08 pm

    I think that this was a really good story also I think that the answer to the problem was very smart and wise. Also, I think that it really stinks because every year when he got money from the money loaner it was bad weather and the money was pretty much no use. 🙁

  • Tony Jumao-as October 29, 2015, 12:09 am

    Good action, Sharp thingking and presense of mind is the best tool to every difficult situation. thank you this beautiful story.

  • Akanksha August 14, 2015, 2:37 am

    I like it

  • Varun August 9, 2015, 9:20 am

    We should not be panic and should think differently

  • Jennifer July 13, 2015, 5:30 pm

    Wow…very very interesting

  • Haruna Wakili May 10, 2015, 12:31 pm

    An interesting story in deed.

  • Rhea Bazgain March 17, 2015, 2:39 am

    Very motivative touching story….

  • Ritaborg March 7, 2015, 12:06 am

    This story is for sure a lesson from a great teacher i heard about the person that signed the story he is maltese and a very intelligent professor and respected in malta. And you Stephen you are our pride and joy for keeping us looking foward for a moment of happiness in a time of need. The story is amazing like both of you. GOD Bless Steve and Edward de Bono. (I am also maltese)

  • Francis Ngugi January 29, 2015, 2:21 am

    Thats one of the best stories i have ever read, i enjoyed it and learnt more for a life time.

  • Francis clouis January 19, 2015, 4:00 pm

    I love all your stories and I’ve shared with my followers in facebook. God bless U n keep on the good job.. I’m glad to find ur blog

  • Sk January 2, 2015, 3:39 am

    nicee…
    unpreditable……!
    love it

  • Lea Bagalanon January 1, 2015, 9:19 pm

    Hehehe nice one! How clever the girl is. I didn’t think of that one.

  • Pelumi Awotedu November 26, 2014, 3:52 am

    Truly, most problems are jst lik stepping stones to greater thgs. Wat might possibly be disadvantageous might be converted to an advantage.

  • Jason Kim November 23, 2014, 5:55 am

    That story is SMART! So cool.

  • Atulya November 20, 2014, 7:22 am

    I really liked the story a lot, the girl had an amazing prblm solving ability.

  • Swagata Singh November 13, 2014, 9:25 am

    Lovely…..extremely inspiring.

  • Nadine November 12, 2014, 7:32 am

    Thanks for the story..
    yes it is true we need to think before talking..
    Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Thinking is a transparent mirror.

  • Jack November 11, 2014, 8:20 am

    I love that

  • Prajit November 10, 2014, 10:25 am

    Inspiring and useful. Look for the hidden solution from the problem itself.

  • Swarup November 10, 2014, 9:17 am

    Quick thinking and presence of mind can pull you out from a difficult situation

  • Prof awuni November 10, 2014, 6:17 am

    Very inspiring

  • Owen November 10, 2014, 5:13 am

    Wonderful story and really gives a good lesson.Giving up and excuses wont help but thinking a different and creative way help

  • Abraham francisco November 10, 2014, 2:01 am

    Dear Stephen,

    May God bless you as ever as you share God breathe and inspiring
    stories with high moral values…

  • Abraham francisco November 10, 2014, 1:54 am

    Inspiring and crystal clear on the message ‘Honesty is even the best policy” even the monkey in its cleverness sometimes outwitted. Thanks Mr. Stephen may you have more Godly breathe wisdom..

  • Kauser November 9, 2014, 11:37 pm

    Very good and motivating story! Thanks.

  • Paul mweteri November 9, 2014, 8:01 pm

    Very motivating and it has led me from nothing to something. Nay God bless you always Mr Stephen for giving as inspiration stories.

  • Johnpl November 9, 2014, 7:13 pm

    Sometimes it just requires a moment of calm and concise thought. However, many times panic takes over and we can’t see a way out of scams, cheats and dishonest deals. Have a great day!

  • Chupa November 9, 2014, 4:10 pm

    Wonderful story, truly most problems do have a solution we just need to think in a different way.

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