You were stubborn

A young man asked an old man that I have been dismissed from my office though I worked hard but many employees were successful in spite of their stupidity and laziness. He told him this story to inference:

"Once an Oak that grew on the bank of a river was uprooted by a severe gale of wind, and thrown across the stream. It fell among some Reeds growing by the water, and said to them, "How is it that you, who are so frail and slender, have managed to weather the storm, whereas I, with all my strength, have been torn up by the roots and hurled into the river?"

"You were stubborn," came the reply, "and fought against the storm, which proved stronger than you: but we bow and yield to every breeze, and thus gale passed harmlessly over our heads."