One day Canute, king of England and Denmark was walking on the sea-shore with his courtiers. They were fond of flattery. They said, “Oh king, you are the lord of sea as well as of the land.” Canute wanted to teach these courtiers a lesson. It was then high tide. High waves were dashing towards the beach. He ordered a chair to be placed on the beach and thus addressed the sea, ‘0 mighty ocean, Thou art n’ subject. My courtiers tell me so. I, therefore, order thee to come no further upon my land.’ But the sea rolled on as before. It wetted the skirts of his robe.
Canute then turned to his courtiers and said, “Vile flatterers. Do you think that I believed in your vile lies? Remember that a king is but a man and a man is but a worm. Shall a man assume the power of great God and expect that elements will obey him? Take away this crown. I shall wear it no more. May kings learn to be humble from this example and let courtiers learn truth from your disgrace.”
Canute then turned to his courtiers and said, “Vile flatterers. Do you think that I believed in your vile lies? Remember that a king is but a man and a man is but a worm. Shall a man assume the power of great God and expect that elements will obey him? Take away this crown. I shall wear it no more. May kings learn to be humble from this example and let courtiers learn truth from your disgrace.”
