Life story

On his way to Chartres, Charles Peguy spots a man on the side of the road who breaks stones with his mallet. The man's gestures are raging, his face is dark. Intrigued, Peguy stops and asks:

"What are you doing, sir? "

"You see," the man answers, "I'm breaking stones." Unhappy, the poor man added in a bitter tone: "My back hurts, I'm thirsty, I'm hungry. But I only found this painful and stupid work.

A little further on the way, our traveler sees another man who breaks stones too. But his attitude seems a little different. His face is more serene, and his gestures more harmonious.

"What are you doing, sir?" Questions Peguy again.

- "I am a stone breaker. It's hard work, you know, but it allows me to feed my wife and children. "

Picking up his breath, he sketches a slight smile and adds:

"And let's go well, I'm in the open air, there are probably worse situations than mine."

Further, our man, meets a third breaker stone. His attitude is totally different. He displays a clear smile and he cuts his mass, enthusiastically, on the pile of stone.

" What are you doing ? Asks Peguy

"Me," replied the man, "I am building a cathedral!

The fable of the stone breakers, attributed to Charles Peguy.