…There was once a king of Spain who was very proud of his ancestor, and who was known for his cruelty towards those weaker than himself.

One day, the king was travelling with his entourage through a field in Aragon, where, the years before, his ancestor had died in a battle. There, he met a holy man rummaging around a huge pile of bone.

The king asked, “What are you doing ?”

” All honour to Your Majesty !” said the holy man, “When i learned that the king of Spain was coming here, i decided to collect together the bones of your late ancestor and give them to you.

But, however hard i look, I cannot find them… For they exactly the same as the bone of armies, peasants, poor men, beggars, and slave !”

(taken from Stories for Parents, Children & Grandchildren – Paulo Coelho)