Samurai Code of Comedy: Believe in your own talent

It so happened that a group of warriors were traveling together. They were serving as guards for a wealthy merchant who needed a protective escort. As they travelled, they told of their skills and experiences to put the merchant at ease. One samurai told a story where he saved a child from a drunk man in a bar. Another told a story about how he fought two men without the benefit of a proper sword. When a third warrior told a story, it was obvious to everyone but the merchant that it was not his story. One samurai pulled him aside and asked “Why do you take credit for something that you have not done? Are you so unconfident in your own experiences that you must pass of the work of others as your own?” The man rebutted saying that the Merchant wouldn't know any better. “True,” said the samurai, “but your audience was more than the merchant, you told the story to your fellow warriors. We recognize that story is not yours. If you are not confident in yourself, how can we be confident in you? Because you did not tell a story of your own, we have no idea how effective you will be in battle. And if we do not find out on this journey, it is doubtful we will be willing to find out on another. Even if you would have told a moderately impressive story, at least it would have been your own and we would know what kind of warrior you are. Now we only know you as a liar”.