Ali lived in a small village. He was a fifth-grade student and was well known throughout the village for his honesty and good manners. His father was a farmer who always advised him, “Son, never stop telling the truth, because truth always brings honor.”
One day at school, the teacher announced that the student who secured first position in the annual examination would receive a valuable book and a certificate of appreciation as a reward. Ali began to study with great dedication. As the exam days approached, one of his friends suggested that he cheat, but Ali clearly refused and said, “I will rely only on my own hard work.”
During the examination, a strange incident occurred. A slip of paper accidentally fell onto Ali’s desk from the notebook of the student sitting next to him. The teacher noticed the paper from a distance and called Ali to him. The teacher asked, “Is this paper yours?” Ali could have denied it, but he chose to speak the truth. He replied, “Sir, it is not mine, but it fell onto my desk.”
The teacher listened carefully and investigated the matter, and the truth came to light. The teacher was deeply impressed by Ali’s honesty and praised him in front of the entire class. He said, “Not everyone has the courage to speak the truth.”
When the results were announced, Ali did not secure first position, but the teacher awarded him a prize for honesty and said that this reward was for his integrity. Ali felt very happy and realized that day that the reward of truth is never wasted. From that day on, Ali became an example for the entire school.
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