0:03 Have you ever tried to explain yourself
0:06 again and again only to realize the
0:09 other person never really wanted to understand?
0:10 understand?
0:13 You spoke with honesty. You repeated
0:16 your words, but all they heard was what
0:20 they wanted to hear. This story is about
0:23 a man who discovered something powerful
0:26 that sometimes silence speaks the truth
0:34 [Music]
0:36 Once upon a time in a quiet village
0:39 surrounded by green hills and slowm
0:42 moving rivers, there lived a man named
0:46 Thomas Gray. Thomas was a lantern maker,
0:49 a humble craftsman who made lamps that
0:52 glowed softly in the dark streets of the
0:55 village. He was gentle, patient, and
0:59 kind. People respected his work, but not
1:02 everyone respected him. Across the
1:06 street lived Mr. Clark, the village tax
1:09 collector, proud, sharp tonged, and
1:12 always suspicious of others. He often
1:15 accused Thomas of cheating his customers
1:17 by charging extra coins for his
1:20 lanterns. "Your light isn't worth the
1:23 price, you ask," he would say loudly in
1:24 the marketplace.
1:28 Thomas would smile and try to explain.
1:30 He would talk about the cost of good
1:33 glass, the fine oil, the careful hands
1:37 that built each lamp. But Clark never
1:40 listened. He only smirked and walked
1:44 away, leaving Thomas feeling small.
1:47 Days turned into months. Thomas kept
1:50 trying, explaining his honesty,
1:53 defending his name, proving his worth.
1:56 Yet every time he tried, rumors spread
2:00 even faster. "Thomas is greedy," someone
2:03 would whisper. "Thomas hides money in
2:05 his workshop," another would add. The
2:08 more he spoke, the more twisted the
2:10 stories became.
2:13 At night, sitting near his small fire,
2:15 Thomas would stare at his lamps
2:18 flickering in the dark. "Why can't they
2:21 see the truth?" he whispered. Why do I
2:24 have to keep explaining?
2:26 One morning, the village square was
2:29 filled with noise. A traveler had
2:32 arrived. An old monk passing through the
2:35 hills. People gathered around him asking
2:39 for blessings and advice. Thomas, tired
2:42 and confused, also approached the monk.
2:45 He waited until the crowd thinned and
2:48 then spoke quietly.
2:52 Sir, Thomas said, "I try to be honest. I
2:55 never cheat anyone, but no matter how
2:58 much I explain myself, they twist my
3:01 words. What should I do to make them understand?"
3:03 understand?"
3:06 The monk looked at him for a long moment
3:11 and smiled. "Tell me," he said softly.
3:15 "If a man decides the sky is green, what
3:17 color is the sky to him?
3:21 Thomas frowned. He would still believe
3:24 it's green, I suppose. Then, said the
3:27 monk, "Would your explanations change
3:31 his eyes?" Thomas shook his head slowly.
3:34 "No, I guess they wouldn't." The monk
3:37 placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
3:40 "Then stop explaining colors to those
3:44 who refuse to see. Let your work be your
3:48 answer. Silence is not weakness, my son.
3:52 It is strength wrapped in peace. And
3:55 with that, the monk walked away, leaving
3:58 Thomas standing there, his heart
4:01 suddenly quiet, as if someone had just
4:05 put out a long burning fire inside him.
4:08 From that day, Thomas changed. He
4:11 stopped defending himself. When people
4:15 accused him, he simply smiled. When Mr.
4:18 Clark mocked him in public. Thomas bowed
4:22 politely and said nothing. "At first,
4:25 everyone thought he was guilty." "See,
4:28 he has no words left," Clark shouted.
4:31 But Thomas kept working calmly and
4:34 silently. He polished his lanterns with
4:37 care, lit them each evening, and placed
4:41 one outside his shop. Night after night,
4:44 that single lantern burned longer than
4:47 any other. Travelers began to notice its
4:50 warm, steady light. They said it made
4:53 the road feel safer, gentler.
4:56 Soon, people from nearby towns came to
4:59 buy his lamps, not because of his words,
5:01 but because of the quiet glow they
5:05 carried. One evening, Mr. Clark himself
5:08 needed a lantern. He came to Thomas's
5:11 shop, embarrassed but stubborn. He
5:13 placed three coins on the table and
5:17 said, "I need one for my porch."
5:20 Thomas simply nodded, handed him a lamp,
5:24 and said, "It will serve you well." No
5:28 anger, no defense, just peace.
5:31 Days later, the villagers saw Clark
5:33 standing outside his home at dusk,
5:36 staring at the soft flame of Thomas's
5:39 lantern. He didn't say it out loud, but
5:43 something in his face had changed. He
5:46 finally saw what words could never show.
5:50 Truth doesn't need to shout.
5:53 Weeks passed. Thomas's shop glowed
5:56 brighter than ever. He still spoke
5:58 kindly, but he never explained himself
6:02 again. If someone misunderstood him, he
6:05 let them. If someone doubted him, he
6:08 smiled. His silence became his
6:11 protection, and his peace became his
6:14 greatest wealth. One night, as he placed
6:17 the lantern outside his door, a young
6:20 boy asked, "Mr. Thomas, why do your
6:23 lights shine so beautifully?"
6:26 Thomas looked at the flame and said,
6:29 "Because I no longer waste my fire
6:31 trying to light the darkness inside
6:34 others. I keep it here where it
6:38 belongs." The boy smiled and the lantern
6:42 flickered warmly against the dark sky.
6:44 Sometimes the most powerful thing you
6:48 can say is nothing at all. When people
6:51 are trapped in their own illusions,
6:54 silence becomes your greatest strength.
6:56 You don't have to defend your truth to
6:58 those who've already made up their
7:01 minds. You don't have to explain your
7:03 heart to those who never cared to
7:06 listen. Because peace isn't found in
7:09 being understood. It's found in
7:12 understanding that you no longer need to
7:15 explain. When you stop chasing
7:18 validation, you begin to feel something
7:22 beautiful, freedom. You start living for
7:24 your own peace, not for someone else's
7:29 approval. And in that quiet space, life
7:34 starts to feel lighter, calmer, real.
7:36 If this story touched your heart,
7:38 remember there are many more stories
7:42 like this waiting for you here. So take
7:45 a moment and subscribe to Tales with
7:47 English and be part of this journey
7:51 where every story teaches peace, hope,
7:53 and self-discovery.
7:56 Thank you for watching. Until next time,
7:59 stay kind, stay calm, and keep your
