There is this short story an excerpt from the epic Ramayan that I heard as a child from my father.

Today it somehow occurred to me that sharing it here on fb is kind of apt. Well I think I can continue to put some stuff like this on to my fb wall till I actually start up a blog of mine. Getting into the story, In a fierce battle with Ram Ravan the demon collapsed down and he is about to let off his last breath. Just then Lakshman the brother of Ram spoke with emotions filled in great angst, O brother I see this moment as a profound proof of the persistence and victory of dharma over the evil. I proclaim that this gets manifested for the generations to come as a great source to carve in a right path of living, Im glad to see the demon pay for his deeds. Ram the divine incarnation then responded with all his compassion, I suggest that you seek the advice of Ravan and ask him for any valuable information that he could perhaps pass on to you as a teaching at this moment and then he continued uninterrupted by the gestures of Lakshman , while it is true that Ravan incurred this ill fate as a consequence of his wrong deeds , it is equally true that he is a great musician, a great disciple of lord shiva unparalleled for his devotion and a great warrior for if it werent for the eventual hint from his own brother vibhishan I wonder if he would have had an upper hand in this battle and now if you are wise immerse yourself in a quest for knowledge and never ever let down any instance that could otherwise enlighten you . Taking upon the words of Ram Lakshman relented to approach Ravan. He went upon and whispered in the ears of Ravan. I have come to you upon the advice of my brother, Do you have any valuable information to pass on to me as a teaching at this moment may be a mantra, may be a warskill or so. I have come to offer myself as a disciple and I request your patronage as a Guru. You are unfit to be a good disciple and so I cannot teach you. This doesnt mean that Im intentionally reluctant towards you but Im indeed appalled by the approach you took up to seek my teaching. You say so that you have come to me upon the advice of your brother which implies that you are adamantly disinterested in hearing anything from me and secondly you are supposed to request a Guru by bowing to his feet with respect and adoration you lack such minimal instinct and then it is ridiculous that you call yourself a Kshatriya, said Ravan and turned away. Well, I see two morals out of this story. Firstly, be humbled enough to respect even the skills of your opponents. Secondly, hold an everlasting quest for knowledge and never let go off any instance to accumulate it. Im neither pious nor chauvinistic but just wanted to share this, perhaps to showcase my writing skills