The King and the Wise Minister

A king loved praise. Courtiers quickly learned to agree with everything he said. Only one old minister continued to speak honestly.

When the king became angry, the minister said, "A mirror does not insult the face. It only shows what is there." The king dismissed him but soon made a costly decision because no one dared correct him.

Realising the danger of flattery, the king called the minister back. From then on, he treated honest criticism as protection, not disrespect.