Socrates and the Astrologer

Once the great Greek philosopher, Socrates, was busy in conversation with his followers. During that time, a wandering astrologer arrived there. He announced in front of Socrates and his followers that he could tell about any person by seeing his/her face. Though Socrates was a great philosopher, he was not so good-looking. But people admired him because of his beautiful thoughts and views. Socrates listened to his announcement very patiently and asked the astrologer if he could tell about him.

The astrologer got the chance he was looking for. He looked at the face of Socrates and said, "By looking at your nostrils, I can tell you have a lot of anger inside of yourself." Hearing this, the followers of Socrates started getting annoyed and tried to stop the astrologer from speaking any further. But Socrates interrupted and asked his followers to allow the astrologer to speak.

The astrologer continued, "The design of his forehead tells that he is surely a greedy person. His chin is telling that he is crack person. The design of his lips and teeth indicates that he always encourages people to become traitors."

Socrates listened everything very politely and then rewarded the astrologer. The astrologer happily went from there. Seeing this, the followers of Socrates were in a state of shock. Socrates understood the condition of his followers and said, "Truth should never be curbed. Whatever the astrologer said was truth. This is the reason I rewarded him. I have all the shortcomings inside me that he has said and I accept them with open-heart. But, however, the astrologer made one mistake. He paid no attention towards self-knowledge and conscience. Had he paid any attention in exploring it, he would have understood that with my conscious efforts and wisdom, I am able to control all these evils inside me"