At the outskirts of the city stood a magnificent palace that had been built in ancient times, and was now used as an office building for municipal workers and as a community center for the citizenry.
Passers-by would invariably be struck by the impressive edifice which was crowned with elegant domes that seemed to rise into the sky and whose portal was framed by two massive decorative pillars.
One day a man who suffered from a disease that impaired his eyesight, so that often things appeared wobbly to him, passed by the palace. As he gazed at the building, he “saw” domes that were about to topple from their rooftop perch and front pillars that were crooked and on the verge of collapse.
“Help!” he began to scream. “The palace is shaking! The domes will fall down in another minute!”
Other passers-by heard his outcry and took it up: “Save yourselves! The palace is falling! Run!”
A general panic ensued. As one person passed on the disastrous news to the next, the citizens hurriedly began to evacuate the area.
Only one man did not lose his presence of mind. After thoroughly examining the position of the domes and pillars, he shouted into the general confusion, “A doctor! Bring a doctor!”
“How can a doctor prevent the palace from collapsing?” he was asked by the crowd.
“A doctor would prove to you that the one who started the rumor suffers from an eye disease, and therefore the palace seems shaky to him! Don’t listen to him; just examine the pillars yourselves. Don’t you see that they stand as firm and straight as ever”?