A Parable of how to rule a Large Country

fiction
edward w pritchard

The emperor of Rome was in those days the most powerful and influential man on earth. One day at his morning meetings with his advisers a visitor brought the Roman Emperor a gift from a far away Eastern Country beyond the known world and far beyond the Emperor's realm. It was a beautiful piece of jewel, called jade exquisitely cut with perfect edges, glowing a warm and enticing shade of green, exuding tranquility and obviously priceless. Along with the finished piece was a much larger uncut and unfinished and unpolished piece of jade in its raw and natural form. The second piece was of the same mineral and was wrapped in a note from the far away Eastern Country saying;

Dear Great Leader of Rome:

I am considered the greatest and most powerful ruler in my part of the world. I humbly confess that I and my subjects, experts and minions have been unable to develop the technology to cut and refine the second larger piece of Jade, although we did process the first piece. It is my understand that no-one in the great world yet knows how to cut a larger piece. If you will work on developing the skill and technology in your Country to cut the large piece of jade it would be appreciated and someday may be of great value to humanity. You, honorable noble Roman emperor may please keep the first piece of jade for you troubles in this matter.

This is the parable of leadership-subtitled How to rule a large Country
.