Wisdom for all ages

03-08-2022

Many years ago I was attending a management development program. During the program I found a story that I would like to share with you.

Once upon a time there was a king in a distant land. One day he summoned 100 of the leading scholars and scholars of his and told them:

“You have written great books praising me and this kingdom. We will leave these books for our future generations to read. As I grow older, I feel it is our duty to pass on to our descendants what we have learned from our ancestors. In addition, we must also pass on what we have learned from our experience.

“You are all the most learned and knowledgeable men in my realm. I would like to entrust you with this sacred task.

“Please collect all the wisdom we have and put it in one place for everyone to read.”

Scholars and scholars left and worked hard for many months. After 6 months they went to the king and presented 20 thick volumes that they had prepared.

The king looked at those volumes and said, “I am proud of you. You have really worked hard to prepare this magnificent work that contains everything we know. But I was thinking that not many people will read all those volumes. What a great job you have done.” fact should benefit the common man. Please reduce the size of what he has written so that the common man will be inclined to read it.”

The scholars worked again for a few more months and brought out a volume. The king was glad to see that volume, but felt that it was still too big.

The scholars then put all their knowledge into one chapter. Although the king appreciated his work, he urged them to reduce it further. After a few weeks, the scholars submitted a page summarizing their knowledge.

The king read the one-page summary and fell into deep thought for some time. He then he said, “You have done a great job. But I still cannot see how an ordinary man will read and absorb the great lines of wisdom you have written. The man who is concerned about his daily life will not mind going.” And what good is knowledge that is not useful to everyone?

“I know I’m asking too much of you. But please see how you can compress it further.”

After a few days, the scholars came out with a single line of wisdom. As soon as the king saw that line, he jumped up and danced with joy and shouted: “Indeed, you have written what I was looking for. This line contains all the wisdom we have learned and will guide people of all ages. No matter how “. how much and in what direction our descendants progress, this wisdom will never fade. I am glad that we can leave behind our discovery of this timeless principle that will be used by all generations to come.”

And this was the wisdom of a line: there is no free lunch.

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