Hello! Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon.
Today's story is called Three Questions for a Good Life by Leo Tolstoy, adapted for audio by Daniel Hines.
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Thanks. Enjoy the episode. Three questions for a good life.
Once upon a time, there was a king who wanted to be good to all his people.
The problem was, what was good wasn't always obvious.
Sure, it was the right thing to do to feed everyone, for instance.
But what did you do when the rains didn't come and a famine hit and you couldn't feed all the people?
What about if the rains came too heavy and started washing away homes?
What about, what about, what about was always running through his head?
Eventually, the king realized that if he always knew the right time to start something, and if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to get done, he would never fail in anything he might try.
And if he did fail, he could fail happy, knowing that he did his very best.
And once he had this realization, he had it proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would teach him what the right time was for every action, and who the most important people were, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.
And learned people came to the king, wise folks and wizards, but they all answered his questions differently.
In reply to asking what was the right time to start something, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must write up in advance a calendar of days, months, and years, and must live strictly according to it.
Only this way, they said, could everything be done at its proper time.
Others declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action, but instead always stay in the present and watch all that was going on and then do what was most important at the time.
Others again said that, however attentive the king might be to what was going on, it was impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a council of wise folks who would help him fix the proper time for everything.
But then again, others said that there were some things which could not wait to be voted on, and that's when the king must act at once and as best as he could.
But in order to decide that, he must know beforehand what was going to happen.
It is only magicians who know that, and therefore, in order to know the right time for every action, one must consult magicians.
Of course, it was the magicians themselves who suggested that.
His second question was just as confusing.
Some said the people the king most needed to listen to were his counselors, others the priests, others the doctors, while some said the warriors were the most necessary.
And again, of course, everyone voted their own groups as most necessary.
To the third question, as to what was the most important thing to do, some replied that the most important thing in the world was science.
Others said it was skill in warfare, and others, again, that it was religious worship.
And once more, of course, every group was in favor of their own kind being the most important.
Bah, said the king to himself. All the court, all the armies and the priests and doctors and whoever else are just out for themselves.
I need real advice that can help all the people.
So the king agreed with none of the people that came and tried to convince them, and he gave the reward to none of them.
But still, wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to hike into the woods and consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in a wood which he never left, and he had no visitors but the most common kind of folk.
So the king put on simple clothes and before reaching the hermit's cell, dismounted from his horse and, leaving his bodyguard behind, went on alone, just like any other regular person passing through the forest.
When the king approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut.
Seeing the king, he greeted him. Hey there, friend, and went on digging.
The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he panted like a tired dog.
The king went up to him and said, I've come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions.
Well, said the hermit, still working, best ask them then, no time like the present.
Well, said the king, how can I learn to do the right thing at the right time?
Who are the people I most need to listen to?
And what thing is the most important and needs my attention first?
The hermit listened to the king but answered nothing.
He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.
You are tired, said the king. Let me take the spade and work a while for you.
Thanks, said the hermit, and giving the spade to the king, he sat down on the ground while the king got to work.
He hadn't done much digging in his life, but he was strong from training with sword and shield and young for a king and made short work of two garden beds.
When he had the two beds finished, the king stopped and repeated his questions.
The hermit again gave no answer but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade and said, Now rest a while and let me work a bit.
But the king thought it might be a test, so he did not give him the spade and continued to dig.
One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the king at last stuck the spade into the ground and said, I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions.
If you can give me none, tell me so, and I'll stop wasting your time.
Here comes someone running, said the hermit, holding up a hand.
Let us see who it is. The king turned around and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood.
The man held his hands pressed against his stomach and blood was flowing from underneath them.
When he reached the king, he fell fainting on the floor, moaning feebly.
He's injured, the king said at once. Let's help him, agreed the hermit.
The king and the hermit pulled up the man's shirt.
There was a big cut on his stomach. The king washed it as best he could and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had.
But the blood would not stop flowing, and the king again and again removed the bandage, soaked with warm blood, and then washed and re-bandaged the wound.
Stay with me, man, said the king, working frantically.
When at last the blood stopped flowing, the man sat up and asked for something to drink.
The king brought fresh water and gave it to him.
Meanwhile, the sun had set and it had started getting cold outside.
So the king, with the hermit's help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the hermit's bed.
Lying on the bed, the man closed his eyes and was quiet.
But the king was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done that he slouched to a seat against the wall and also fell asleep, so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night.
But the king was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done that he slouched to a seat against the wall and also fell asleep, so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night.
When he awoke in the morning, it took him a long moment before he could remember where he was or who the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes was.
Forgive me, said the bearded man in a weak voice when he saw that the king was awake and looking at him.
Forgive you? asked the king. You've done nothing wrong.
You do not know me, but I know you. When my brother was a criminal, you threw him in prison and seized his property.
I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I thought to attack you on your way back.
The day passed and you didn't return, so I came out from my ambush to find you and I came upon your bodyguards and attacked them.
They wounded me and I escaped, but I would have bled to death if you hadn't taken care of my wound.
I wished to hurt you and you have saved my life.
Now, if I live and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful friend and will bid my children do the same.
Forgive me. The king was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend to him, and promised to restore his brother's property as well.
The man thanked him over and over again and slumped back in the bed, still recovering.
The king went out to the porch and looked around for the hermit.
Before going away, he wished once more to beg an answer to the questions he had.
The hermit was outside on his knees, sowing seeds in the bed that the king had dug the day before.
The king approached him and said, For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man.
I want to be a good king. You have already been answered, said the hermit, still crouching on his thin legs and looking up at the king who stood before him.
Answered, What do you mean? asked the king.
Do you not see? replied the hermit. If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone on your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have wished you had stayed.
So the most important time was when you were digging the beds, and I was the most important man, and to do me good was your most important business.
Afterwards, when that man ran to us, the most important time was then, because if you hadn't bound up his wounds, he would have died without making peace with you.
So he was the most important man, and what you did for him was your most important business.
Remember then, there is only one time that is important.
Now. It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.
The most necessary person is whoever you're with because they deserve your attention.
And the most important thing to do is to treat them well.
Because if we all behave that way, the world will be a better place, to be sure.
The king thought about it and decided he was right.
He thanked the hermit and made his way back to his castle, where he ruled wisely and kindly for many, many years.
He handled things as they came up, made everyone who came to see them a friend, and treated them well, no matter their rank or title.
And they all lived happily ever after. The End Today's story, Three Questions for a Good Life, was written for you by Leo Tolstoy and adapted for audio by Daniel Hines.
It was edited and produced by Andrew Martin and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon.
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