The Emperor's New Clothes — Hans Christian Andersen

Once there was an emperor so fond of new clothes that he spent all his money on being finely dressed. One day two swindlers came to town, claiming to weave the most beautiful cloth in the world—cloth that was invisible to anyone who was a fool or unfit for his post. The emperor ordered this marvellous suit. No one dared admit they saw nothing, for fear of seeming stupid; and so everyone praised the cloth that was not there. The emperor paraded in his invisible clothes, and the people cheered—until a small child cried out: "But he has nothing on at all!" The whisper spread until everyone spoke the truth. The emperor shivered, for he knew it was so; yet he held his head high and walked on.