In a village long ago, there lived a young boy who loved nothing as much as competing in athletic contests. Because he was fit and strong, he usually triumphed and grew to love the adulation he received from the villagers around him.
One day, he challenged two other youths to a race from one end of town to the other. The villagers all lined up to watch. The boy won, and the townspeople cheered wildly.
"Who else wants to race me?" the boy said. "Come on, are you all afraid?"
An elderly woman was watching the races, and she grew annoyed at the boy's arrogance. So, she prodded two elderly men to challenge him. They could barely make their way to the starting line, but they seemed willing to compete.
"What's this?" The boy was puzzled. How could he win the applause he craved by beating two old men who could hardly stagger two steps?
The old woman walked up and whispered in his ear: "Do you want applause for this race?"
"Of course," said the boy.
"Finish together," the woman said.