Čeština / B2

Dvoje hodiny

Short story

Závěsné hodiny cvakly a oznámily, že je dvanáct. Stojací hodiny však odporovaly:

„Není. Ještě zbývá skoro čtvrt hodiny!“

Závěsné hodiny se zeptaly stojacích: „Čím nám to dokážete?“

„Řídíme se hodinami na věži,“ vysvětlily stojací hodiny.

„A my podle slunce,“ odpověděly závěsné.

Rozdíl v údajích tak doplnila informace o tom, z čeho každé hodiny vycházejí. Bajka končí poučením: než rozhodneme o pravdě nějakého tvrzení, měli bychom prozkoumat zdroj, o který se opírá.


English summary · includes the ending

A hanging clock announces that it is twelve. A standing clock disagrees and says that almost a quarter of an hour remains before twelve. The two clocks therefore give different answers to the same question.

The hanging clock asks what proof the standing clock has. The reply is that it follows the clock on the tower. The hanging clock then explains that it follows the sun. This answer ends their short exchange.

The fable's final advice is to examine where a statement comes from before deciding whether it is true. The disagreement is not settled by another time announcement. Instead, the conversation brings out the different sources behind the two claims.

No person enters to check the clocks, and neither clock is shown being corrected. The ending rests on their explanation and the author's advice: a claim should be considered together with the source on which it depends.

Adapted for Lejrbål from the credited source.
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