When South Vietnam was nearing its end, and General Minh was in charge, a popular artist came to him and asked to make a statue in his honor (at government expense).
the people's hero," he told him.
"Yes, but make the sculpture in bronze," replied the general.
So the artist made the sculpture, but when it was unveiled in a small private ceremony, the general was furious. For the sculpture was made in gold.
"I want bronze," he said, "I want bronze!"
The artist went away in a hurry, deeply impressed with this show of humility.
But he still wanted to honor the general, so he made the next sculpture in silver.
But again the general was furious.
"I want bronze," he said, "I want bronze!"
This time the artist made the sculpture out of bronze as asked.
When the sculpture was revealed to the general, he was overjoyed at the wonderful bronze likeness.
The artist then complimented the general on his deep humility.
This notion confused him very much.
"But why did you want sculpture made of bronze?"
"Why? I'll tell you why," said the general. "Because General Minh prefer bronze!"
