After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure， it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself， and I want to apologize to you." "why？"asked the bearer， "What are you ashamed of？" "I have been able， for these past two years， to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master' s house. Because of my flaws， you have to do all of this work， and you don' t get full value from your efforts， "the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot， and in his compassion he said， "As we return to the master' s house， I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed， as they went up the hill， the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path， and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail， it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load， and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot， "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path， but not on the other pot's side？ That' s because I have always known about your flaw， and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path， and every day while we walk back from the stream， you' ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master' s table. Without you being just the way you are， he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
印度有一個挑水工。他有兩個大罐子，其中一個罐子做工精細，從不漏水；另一個上麵則有一道裂縫。每當挑水工回到雇主家時，有裂縫的罐子裏的水就隻剩一半了。
這樣過了整整兩年，這個挑水工每天挑到雇主家的水僅有一罐半。當然，那個完好的罐子為自己的成就甚感自豪。而那個可憐的、有裂縫的罐子因自身的瑕疵而羞愧不已。