The three Leo Tolstoy's questions
One day, a
emperor said that if he got the answer to three questions, he had the key to solving any problem
:
• What is the best time to take
something?
• What are the most important people with whom
work?
• What is the most important thing above all?
The emperor issued a call for the whole kingdom announcing that whoever could respond to the three questions he would receive a generous reward. Now many who wished to be presented at court, each with its own answer.
regards the first question, a man advised to prepare a work plan to be followed strictly, specifying the time, day, month and year should be reserved for each activity. Only then could hope to do everything at the right time.
Another said that it was impossible to tell in advance what to do and when to do it, the emperor had to give up any futile
leisure and follow closely the course of events. Some were convinced that the emperor could not be so prudent and competent to decide when to undertake each activity, the best thing was to establish a council of experts and get back to its opinion. Someone else said that certain issues require an immediate decision and leave no time in consultations, but if he wanted to know in advance the future, would do well to turn to magicians and soothsayers.
also the second question is answered in different ways. One said that the emperor had to put all his trust in administrators, another advised him to rely on the clergy and monks, there were those who recommended the doctors and those who ruled in favor of the soldiers.
The third question raised again a variety of opinions. Some said that the most important activity was the science. Others insisted on religion. Still others argued that the most important thing was the military art.
The emperor was not satisfied by any of the responses, and the reward was not given. After several nights of reflection, the emperor decided
to visit a hermit who lived in the mountains and had a reputation as an enlightened being. He wanted to look for him to ask him three questions, knowing that the hermit never left the mountains and received
only the poor, refusing to deal with the rich and powerful. Therefore, covered the role of a simple farmer, he ordered his escort to await him at the foot of the mountain and climbed alone up the slope in search of the hermit.
holy man arrived at the residence of the emperor found him dig the vegetable garden near her hut. At the sight of the unknown, the hermit made a nodded his head while continuing to dig. The effort you could see his face. He was old, and every time I dug the spade to move a plate, threw a whimper. The emperor approached him and said: "I came to ask you to answer three questions: what is the best time to undertake something, what are the most important people to work with? What's the most contasopra all?".
The hermit listened attentively, but he just give him a friendly pat on the shoulder and began to dig. The emperor said: "You must be tired." Come, let me give you a hand.''The hermit thanked him, gave him the spade
and sat on the ground to rest. After digging two grooves, the emperor stopped and, turned to the hermit to repeat his three questions. And again it did not answer, but stood up and said, pointing to the spade: "Why do not you rest? Now I start again.''But the emperor continued to dig. An hour passes, we pass two.
Finally sun begins to set behind the mountains. The emperor put down the spade and the hermit said:''I came to have three questions.
But unless you know you give me an answer please tell me, so I return to my home .''The hermit lifted his head and asked the emperor: "I heard someone running towards us?". The emperor turned around. Both saw emerge from the thicket of trees a man with a long white beard that ran breathlessly clutching the bloodied hands on her stomach. The man pointed to the emperor, before collapsing to the ground with a groan, unconscious.
Removed clothing, they saw that he had been seriously wounded. The emperor cleaned the wound and bandaged using its shirt in a few moments but was completely soaked with blood. Then rinsed several times and renewed the bandage until the bleeding was not stopped.
the end, the injured regained consciousness and asked for a drink. The Emperor ran to the river and returned with a pitcher of cool water. Meanwhile, the sun was set and the night air began to be cold. The hermit helped the emperor to carry the wounded man into the hut and lay it on her bed. The man closed his eyes and remained motionless. The emperor was exhausted from the long climb and work in the garden. She leaned against the doorway and fell asleep. When he awoke, the sun was already high. For a moment he forgot where he was and what was he doing. He glanced at the bed and saw the wounded man looked around bewildered. At the sight of the emperor, began to stare at him and said in a whisper: "Please forgive me." "But what should I forgive?" Said the emperor. 'You do not know me, your majesty, but I know you. I was your mortal enemy and I had sworn to avenge because the last war you killed my brother and I impossessaste my property. When I heard that you went alone to the mountains in search of a hermit, I decided to ambush on the way back and kill you. But after many hours of waiting there were yet alive, so I decided to leave my hiding place to come and look. But instead of finding you, I came across the Commons, who recognized me and hurt me. Luckily, I managed to escape and to get here. If I had met there, at this time certainly would have died. I wanted to kill you, and yet I have saved my life! My shame and my gratitude is inexpressible. If I live,
swear to serve the remainder of my days and to impose on my children and grandchildren to do the same. Please, give me your forgiveness.''
Emperor infinitely rejoiced the unexpected reconciliation with a man who had been the enemy. Not only forgave him, but promised to return the goods and send them to your doctor and the servants of the court to take care of him until he was completely healed. He ordered his escort to accompany him back home, then went for hermit. Before returning to the palace, he wanted riproporgli the three questions for the last time. He found that he sowed in the ground where they had dug the day before.
The hermit stood up and looked at the emperor. "But your questions have already been answered." "How would it be?" Asked the emperor, perplexed. "If yesterday I had not had pity on my age and I had helped to dig these grooves, you'd be attacked by the man on the way back. Then you would have bitterly regretted not staying with me. Therefore, the most important moment which was excavated in the grooves, the most important person I was, and the most important thing to do was help me. Later, when it came
wounded, the most important moment was one in which you treat the wound, because if you had not treated would die and would have missed an opportunity to reconcile with him. For the same reason, the most important person and he was the most important thing to do was treat her wound. Remember that there is one important step: this. This is the only time that we are masters. The most important person is always the one with which we are, what we face, because who knows if in the future we will have to do with other people?
The most important thing above all is to make happy the person next to you, because this is the only purpose of life.''
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