The Cause Lies Within

was not pleased with himself. He said, “I have actually failed in carving the likeness of the man, otherwise the birds would never have dared to come near him.” The artist then made another attempt. The grapes were again so realistic that they attracted the birds. But this time they hovered at a distance from the statue, because the eyes of the man were so lifelike that they did not dare approach him. Had the artist been content to bask in the praise of his friends, he would never have produced his ultimate masterpiece. It was his innate sense of his own shortcomings that spurred him on to absolute perfection. Striving for excellence develops our personality on successful lines.