Wisdom

The village sage stood in a field all day, hat cocked, eyes fixed forward. He was handsome and kind. He was made out of straw.

To the villagers he was indispensable. They talked of their sorrows with him, sought him out for advice. He was known to be an excellent listener. He served as an arbiter in the bitterest disputes, for people trusted that he would never take sides.

Only once had anyone gone to see him and left disappointed. There had been a young girl, a lonely young girl, who had come to him for companionship. She had asked, "But what of your life, sir? What do you think, and what do you feel?"

This was generally regarded as a foolish thing to have asked. It was not the role of a sage to feel anything.