Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best.
The most important.
The most useful.
The favorite.
Green said:
"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life_and_of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees_and_leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside_and_you will see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky_and_the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life_and_drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space_and_peace_and_serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety,_and_warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."
Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the color of health_and_strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes,_and_papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise_or_sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger_and_of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion_and_of love, the red rose, the poinsettia_and_the poppy."
Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall_and_spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty_and_power. Kings, chiefs,_and_bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority_and_wisdom. People do not question me! They listen_and_obey."
Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought_and_reflection, twilight_and_deep water. You need me for balance_and_contrast, for prayer_and_inner peace."
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his_or_her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder_and_louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled_and_boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique_and_different? Join hands with one another_and_come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united_and_joined hands.
The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."_and_so, whenever a good rain washes the world,_and_a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
Translation:
从前，世界上的各种颜色进行过一次争吵。
每一种颜色都说自己是最好的，
最重要的，
最有用的，
和最讨人喜欢的。
绿色说：
“显然，我是最重要的。我是生命和希望的标志。我被选作青草，树木以及叶子的颜色。没有了我，所有的动物都会死去。展望田野吧，你会看到，到处都有我。”
蓝色打断了它的话：
“你只考虑了地上，想想天空和海洋吧。水才是生命的基础呀，云彩把水分从深邃的大海带到了天空。天空给了人们空间、和平和宁谧。没有我的和平，你们将不复存在。”
黄色咯咯地笑出了声：
“你们都太严肃了。我给这个世界带来了笑声、欢乐和温暖。太阳是黄色的，月亮是黄色的，星星是黄色的，每一次你看向日葵的时候，整个世界都开始欢笑。没有我就没有快乐。”
橙色马上开始自吹自擂：
“我可是健康和力量的颜色。我可能比较稀少，但是我非常宝贵，因为我满足了人们生活的需要。我携带了大多数重要的维他命。想想胡罗卜、南瓜、柑橘、芒果和番木瓜。我并不经常出没在天空，但日出或日落我在天际登场时，我的美丽足以惊世，没有人还会想起你们。”
红色再也忍不下去了，他喊道：
“我，是你们所有人的主宰。我是血液——生命的血液！我是危险和勇敢的颜色。我愿意为了一个目标而斗争。我把烈火带入血液。没有了我，地球会象月亮一样变得空虚。我是激情和爱的颜色，是红玫瑰、猩猩木和罂粟。
紫色站起身来：
他非常高，说起话来风度十足：“我是王权和力量的象征。国王、酋长、主教都选择了我，因为我象征着权威和智慧。人们不会对我提出疑问，他们只能聆听和服从。”
最后，靛青说话了，他的声音比其他人都轻，但却比其他人都斩钉截铁：
“想想我吧。我是沉默的颜色。你们几乎注意不到我，但是如果没有我，你们全都会变得肤浅。我代表着思想和反省，代表者黎明的微光和深邃的海水。你们需要我来平衡和比较，来祈祷和获求内心的安宁。”
这样一来，颜色们就不停地自夸，每个人都深信自己无比优越。他们的争吵声越来越大。突然，电闪雷鸣。雨无情地倾盆而下。颜色们惊恐地蜷缩起来，彼此挤在一起捱过着恐怖的时刻。
在一片喧嚣声中，雨开始说话了：
“你们这些愚蠢的颜色，彼此相互争斗，每个人都想支配别人。你们难道就不知道每个人都是天造地设，都是独一无二，彼此不同的吗？携起手来吧。”
颜色们按照着雨的话，团结在一起，携起手来。
雨接着说：
“从现在开始，每次下雨的时候你们都要变成一个巨大的彩色弓形横跨天空，以证明你们能够和平相处。彩虹就是未来希望的标志。”所以，每当大雨冲刷这个世界时，彩虹都会出现在天空，让我们记住彼此要珍惜。