Eyes Closed, Heart Open: A Powerful Tale of Dignity.

Posted by

Mary Markou

October 10, 2025

On October 10, 2025

A Story of Dignity and Humility

In the realm of human history lies an age-old tale that unravels the complexity of our collective journey, exploring the delicate balance between dignity and humiliation.

A young man meets an elderly gentleman.

“Do you remember me?”

“No.”

“I used to be your student.”

“How are you? What do you do for a living?”

“I became a teacher myself.”

“Do you think you are good at your job?”

“Honestly, yes. You inspired me, and I wanted to be like you.”

The Memory

Curious, the elderly gentleman asks what stayed in his mind and inspired him so deeply that he wanted to become a teacher himself. And the young man tells the following story:

One day, a classmate and friend of mine came to class and showed me a beautiful new watch he had in his pocket. I couldn’t resist the temptation, and at some point, I stole it. Soon, he realised the watch was missing from his pocket and immediately told the teacher who was teaching us at that moment in class. That teacher was you. So you addressed the class and said,

“During this lesson, a classmate’s watch was stolen. I urge the person who took it to return it immediately.”

A Silent Lesson

Overwhelmed by the prospect of humiliation in front of my peers, I couldn’t bring myself to confess. Then you closed the door, told us all to stand up, and said you would search everyone’s pockets until you found it. But you set one condition: that we all had to keep our eyes closed so no one would see who the culprit was. And so it happened. When you reached me, you found the watch in my pocket and took it. But you continued searching everyone’s pockets, and when you finished, you said:

“Now, you may all open your eyes. The watch has been found!”

You never mentioned my name to the class, nor did you ever comment on the incident to me personally. I expected you to reprimand me and lecture me, but none of that happened. That day, you saved my dignity forever. It was the most shameful day of my life, and you gave me a powerful lesson through your actions.

“Do you remember the incident now, Professor?“
“Yes, hearing you, I remember everything. But there’s one thing I don’t remember—and that’s you. Because I had my eyes closed too while searching your pockets!”

To correct someone by stripping away their dignity is to abandon the essence of teaching.
The educators we remember are those who uplift quietly, leaving traces of kindness etched in our hearts