THE PEARL

Said one oyster to a neighboring oyster, "I have a very
great pain within me. It is heavy and round and I am in
distress."
  And the other oyster replied with haughty complacence,
"Praise be to the heavens and to the sea, I have no pain
within me. I am well and whole both within and without."
  At that moment a crab was passing by and heard the two
oysters, and he said to the one who was well and whole
both within and without, "Yes, you are well and whole;
but the pain your neighbor bears is a pearl of exceeding
beauty."


KAHLIL GIBRAN