September 1, 2025 • 12 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The emperor's new clothes. Many years ago, there was an
emperor who was so excessively fond of new clothes that
he spent all his money in dress. He did not
trouble himself in the least about his soldiers, nor did
he care to go either to the theater or the chaise,
(00:20):
except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his
new clothes. He had a different suit for each hour
of the day. And as of any other king or emperor,
one is accustomed to say he is sitting in council.
It was also said of him, the Emperor is sitting
in his wardrobe. Time passed merrily in the large town
(00:43):
which was his capital. Strangers arrived every day at the court.
One day, two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their appearance.
They gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs
of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes
manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining
(01:06):
invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held,
or who was extraordinarily simple in character. These must indeed
be splendid clothes. Thought the emperor had I such a suit.
I might at once find out what men in my
realms are unfit for their office, and also be able
(01:30):
to distinguish the wise from the foolish. This stuff must
be woven for me immediately, and he caused large sums
of money to be given to both the weavers in
order that they might begin their work directly. So the
two pretended weavers set up two looms and affected to
(01:51):
work very busily, though in reality they did nothing at all.
They asked for the most delicate silk and the purest
gold thread, put both into their own knapsacks, and then
continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late
at night. I should like to know how the weavers
(02:12):
are getting on with my cloth, said the emperor to himself,
after some little time had elapsed. He was, however, rather
embarrassed when he remembered that a simpleton, or one unfit
for his office, would be able to see the manufacture.
To be sure, he thought he had nothing to risk
(02:33):
in his own person, But yet he would prefer sending
somebody else to bring him intelligence about the weavers and
their work before he troubled himself in the affair. All
the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful
property the cloth was to possess, and all were anxious
to learn how wise or how ignorant their neighbors might
(02:56):
prove to be. I will send my faithful old minister
to the weavers, said the Emperor, at last, after some deliberation,
he will be best able to see how the cloth looks,
for he is a man of sense, and no one
can be more suitable for his office than he is.
So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where
(03:19):
the knaves were working with all their might at their
empty looms. What can be the meaning of this? Thought
the old man, opening his eyes very wide, I cannot
discover the least bit of threat on the looms. However,
he did not express his thoughts aloud. The impostors requested
him very courteously to be so good as to come
(03:42):
nearer their looms, and then asked him whether the design
pleased him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful
at the same time, pointing to the empty frames. The
poor old minister looked and looked. He could not discover
anything on the looms for a very good reason, viz.
(04:04):
There was nothing there. What thought, he again, is it
possible that I am a simpleton. I have never thought
so myself, and no one must know it. Now. If
I am so, can it be that I am unfit
for my office? No, that must not be said either.
(04:25):
I will never confess it. I could not see the
stuff well, sir minister, said one of the knaves, still
pretending to work. You do not say whether the stuff
pleases you. Oh it is excellent, replied the old minister,
looking at the loom through his spectacles. This pattern and
(04:46):
the colors. Yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay,
how very beautiful I think them. We shall be much
obliged to you, said the impostors, and then they named
the different colors and describe the pattern of the pretended stuff.
The old minister listened attentively to their words in order
(05:07):
that he might repeat them to the Emperor. And then
the knaves asked for more silk and gold, saying that
it was necessary to complete what they had begun. However,
they put all that was given them into their knapsacks
and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as
before at their empty looms. The Emperor now sent another
(05:30):
officer of his court to see how the men were
getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon
be ready. It was just the same with this gentleman
as with the minister. He surveyed the looms on all sides,
but could see nothing at all but the empty frames.
Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you as
(05:50):
it did to my lord? The minister asked, the impostors
of the Emperor's second ambassador, at the same time, making
the same gestures as before, and talking of the design
and colors which were not there. I certainly am not stupid,
thought the messenger. It must be that I am not
fit for my good, profitable office. That is very odd. However,
(06:15):
no one shall know anything about it. And accordingly he
praised the stuff he could not see, and declared that
he was delighted with both colors and patterns. Indeed, please,
your Imperial Majesty, said he to his sovereign, when he returned.
The cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily magnificent.
(06:37):
The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which
the Emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense,
And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly
manufacture while it was still in the loom, accompanied by
a select number of officers of the court, among whom
(06:57):
were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth,
he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as
they were aware of the Emperor's approach, went on working
more diligently than ever, although they still did not pass
a single thread through the looms. Is not the work?
Absolutely magnificent, said the two officers of the crown already mentioned,
(07:23):
if your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it?
What a splendid design, what glorious colors. And at the
same time they pointed to the empty frames, for they
imagined that every one else could see this exquisite piece
of workmanship. How is this, said the emperor to himself.
(07:44):
I can see nothing. This is indeed a terrible affair.
Am I a simpleton? Or am I unfit to be
an emperor? That would be the worst thing that could happen. Oh,
the cloth is charming, said he loud. It has my
complete approbation. And he smiled most graciously and looked closely
(08:07):
at the empty looms, for on no account would he
say that he could not see what two of the
officers of his court had praised so much. All his
retinue now strained their eyes, hoping to discover something on
the looms, but they could see no more than the others. Nevertheless,
(08:27):
they all exclaimed, oh, how beautiful, and advised his Majesty
to have some new clothes made from this splendid material
for the approaching procession. Magnificent, charming, excellent resounded on all sides,
and everyone was uncommonly gay. The Emperor shared in the
(08:49):
general satisfaction, and presented the impostors with the ribband of
an order of knighthood to be worn in their button holes,
and the title of gentlemen. We The rogues sat up
the whole of the night before the day on which
the procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights
burning so that every one might see how anxious they
(09:12):
were to finish the Emperor's new suit. They pretended to
roll the cloth off the looms, cut the air with
their scissors, and sewed with needles without any thread in them. See,
cried they. At last, the Emperor's new clothes are ready.
And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court,
(09:34):
came to the weavers and the rogues raised their arms
as if in the act of holding something up, saying,
here are your Majesty's trousers, Here is the scarf, Here
is the mantle. The whole suit is as light as
a cobweb. One might fancy one has nothing at all
on when dressed in it. That, however, is the great
(09:57):
virtue of this delicate cloth. Yes, indeed, said all the courtiers,
although not one of them could see anything of this
exquisite manufacture. If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased
to take off your clothes, we will fit on the
new suit in front of the looking glass. The Emperor
(10:20):
was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to array him
in his new suit. The Emperor turning round from side
to side before the looking glass. How splendid his Majesty
looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit?
Every one cried out, what a design? What colors these are?
(10:42):
Indeed royal robes. The canopy, which is to be borne
over your Majesty in the procession, is waiting, announced the
chief Master of the ceremonies. I am quite ready, answered
the Emperor. Do my new clothes fit well, asked, he
turning him around again before the looking glass, in order
(11:03):
that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit.
The lords of the bed chamber, who were to carry
his majesty's train, felt about on the ground as if
they were lifting up the ends of the mantel, and
pretended to be carrying something, for they would by no
means betray anything like simplicity or unfitness for their office.
(11:26):
So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in
the midst of the procession through the streets of his capital,
and all the people standing by and those at the
windows cried out, Oh, how beautiful are our Emperor's new clothes.
What a magnificent train there is to the mantel, and
(11:47):
how gracefully the scarf hangs. In short, no one would
allow that he could not see these much admired clothes,
because in doing so, he would have declared himself either
a simpleton or unfit for his office. Certainly, none of
the Emperor's various suits had ever made so great an
(12:09):
impression as these invisible ones. But the Emperor has nothing
at all on said a little child. Listen to the
voice of innocence exclaimed his father. And what the child
had said was whispered from one to another, But he
has nothing at all. On at last cried out all
(12:30):
the people. The emperor was vexed, for he knew that
the people were right, but he thought the procession must
go on now. And the lords of the bed chamber
took greater pains than ever to appear holding up a train,
although in reality there was no train to hold, and
(12:51):
of the emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes. Many years ago, there was an
emperor who was so excessively fond of new clothes that
he spent all his money in dress. He did not
trouble himself in the least about his soldiers, nor did
he care to go either to the theater or the chaise,
(00:20):
except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his
new clothes. He had a different suit for each hour
of the day. And as of any other king or emperor,
one is accustomed to say he is sitting in council.
It was also said of him, the Emperor is sitting
in his wardrobe. Time passed merrily in the large town
(00:43):
which was his capital. Strangers arrived every day at the court.
One day, two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their appearance.
They gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs
of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes
manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining
(01:06):
invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held,
or who was extraordinarily simple in character. These must indeed
be splendid clothes. Thought the emperor had I such a suit.
I might at once find out what men in my
realms are unfit for their office, and also be able
(01:30):
to distinguish the wise from the foolish. This stuff must
be woven for me immediately, and he caused large sums
of money to be given to both the weavers in
order that they might begin their work directly. So the
two pretended weavers set up two looms and affected to
(01:51):
work very busily, though in reality they did nothing at all.
They asked for the most delicate silk and the purest
gold thread, put both into their own knapsacks, and then
continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late
at night. I should like to know how the weavers
(02:12):
are getting on with my cloth, said the emperor to himself,
after some little time had elapsed. He was, however, rather
embarrassed when he remembered that a simpleton, or one unfit
for his office, would be able to see the manufacture.
To be sure, he thought he had nothing to risk
(02:33):
in his own person, But yet he would prefer sending
somebody else to bring him intelligence about the weavers and
their work before he troubled himself in the affair. All
the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful
property the cloth was to possess, and all were anxious
to learn how wise or how ignorant their neighbors might
(02:56):
prove to be. I will send my faithful old minister
to the weavers, said the Emperor, at last, after some deliberation,
he will be best able to see how the cloth looks,
for he is a man of sense, and no one
can be more suitable for his office than he is.
So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where
(03:19):
the knaves were working with all their might at their
empty looms. What can be the meaning of this? Thought
the old man, opening his eyes very wide, I cannot
discover the least bit of threat on the looms. However,
he did not express his thoughts aloud. The impostors requested
him very courteously to be so good as to come
(03:42):
nearer their looms, and then asked him whether the design
pleased him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful
at the same time, pointing to the empty frames. The
poor old minister looked and looked. He could not discover
anything on the looms for a very good reason, viz.
(04:04):
There was nothing there. What thought, he again, is it
possible that I am a simpleton. I have never thought
so myself, and no one must know it. Now. If
I am so, can it be that I am unfit
for my office? No, that must not be said either.
(04:25):
I will never confess it. I could not see the
stuff well, sir minister, said one of the knaves, still
pretending to work. You do not say whether the stuff
pleases you. Oh it is excellent, replied the old minister,
looking at the loom through his spectacles. This pattern and
(04:46):
the colors. Yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay,
how very beautiful I think them. We shall be much
obliged to you, said the impostors, and then they named
the different colors and describe the pattern of the pretended stuff.
The old minister listened attentively to their words in order
(05:07):
that he might repeat them to the Emperor. And then
the knaves asked for more silk and gold, saying that
it was necessary to complete what they had begun. However,
they put all that was given them into their knapsacks
and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as
before at their empty looms. The Emperor now sent another
(05:30):
officer of his court to see how the men were
getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon
be ready. It was just the same with this gentleman
as with the minister. He surveyed the looms on all sides,
but could see nothing at all but the empty frames.
Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you as
(05:50):
it did to my lord? The minister asked, the impostors
of the Emperor's second ambassador, at the same time, making
the same gestures as before, and talking of the design
and colors which were not there. I certainly am not stupid,
thought the messenger. It must be that I am not
fit for my good, profitable office. That is very odd. However,
(06:15):
no one shall know anything about it. And accordingly he
praised the stuff he could not see, and declared that
he was delighted with both colors and patterns. Indeed, please,
your Imperial Majesty, said he to his sovereign, when he returned.
The cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily magnificent.
(06:37):
The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which
the Emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense,
And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly
manufacture while it was still in the loom, accompanied by
a select number of officers of the court, among whom
(06:57):
were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth,
he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as
they were aware of the Emperor's approach, went on working
more diligently than ever, although they still did not pass
a single thread through the looms. Is not the work?
Absolutely magnificent, said the two officers of the crown already mentioned,
(07:23):
if your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it?
What a splendid design, what glorious colors. And at the
same time they pointed to the empty frames, for they
imagined that every one else could see this exquisite piece
of workmanship. How is this, said the emperor to himself.
(07:44):
I can see nothing. This is indeed a terrible affair.
Am I a simpleton? Or am I unfit to be
an emperor? That would be the worst thing that could happen. Oh,
the cloth is charming, said he loud. It has my
complete approbation. And he smiled most graciously and looked closely
(08:07):
at the empty looms, for on no account would he
say that he could not see what two of the
officers of his court had praised so much. All his
retinue now strained their eyes, hoping to discover something on
the looms, but they could see no more than the others. Nevertheless,
(08:27):
they all exclaimed, oh, how beautiful, and advised his Majesty
to have some new clothes made from this splendid material
for the approaching procession. Magnificent, charming, excellent resounded on all sides,
and everyone was uncommonly gay. The Emperor shared in the
(08:49):
general satisfaction, and presented the impostors with the ribband of
an order of knighthood to be worn in their button holes,
and the title of gentlemen. We The rogues sat up
the whole of the night before the day on which
the procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights
burning so that every one might see how anxious they
(09:12):
were to finish the Emperor's new suit. They pretended to
roll the cloth off the looms, cut the air with
their scissors, and sewed with needles without any thread in them. See,
cried they. At last, the Emperor's new clothes are ready.
And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court,
(09:34):
came to the weavers and the rogues raised their arms
as if in the act of holding something up, saying,
here are your Majesty's trousers, Here is the scarf, Here
is the mantle. The whole suit is as light as
a cobweb. One might fancy one has nothing at all
on when dressed in it. That, however, is the great
(09:57):
virtue of this delicate cloth. Yes, indeed, said all the courtiers,
although not one of them could see anything of this
exquisite manufacture. If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased
to take off your clothes, we will fit on the
new suit in front of the looking glass. The Emperor
(10:20):
was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to array him
in his new suit. The Emperor turning round from side
to side before the looking glass. How splendid his Majesty
looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit?
Every one cried out, what a design? What colors these are?
(10:42):
Indeed royal robes. The canopy, which is to be borne
over your Majesty in the procession, is waiting, announced the
chief Master of the ceremonies. I am quite ready, answered
the Emperor. Do my new clothes fit well, asked, he
turning him around again before the looking glass, in order
(11:03):
that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit.
The lords of the bed chamber, who were to carry
his majesty's train, felt about on the ground as if
they were lifting up the ends of the mantel, and
pretended to be carrying something, for they would by no
means betray anything like simplicity or unfitness for their office.
(11:26):
So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in
the midst of the procession through the streets of his capital,
and all the people standing by and those at the
windows cried out, Oh, how beautiful are our Emperor's new clothes.
What a magnificent train there is to the mantel, and
(11:47):
how gracefully the scarf hangs. In short, no one would
allow that he could not see these much admired clothes,
because in doing so, he would have declared himself either
a simpleton or unfit for his office. Certainly, none of
the Emperor's various suits had ever made so great an
(12:09):
impression as these invisible ones. But the Emperor has nothing
at all on said a little child. Listen to the
voice of innocence exclaimed his father. And what the child
had said was whispered from one to another, But he
has nothing at all. On at last cried out all
(12:30):
the people. The emperor was vexed, for he knew that
the people were right, but he thought the procession must
go on now. And the lords of the bed chamber
took greater pains than ever to appear holding up a train,
although in reality there was no train to hold, and
(12:51):
of the emperor's new clothes
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