The Three Question

By Leo Tolstoy

It once occurred to a certain king that if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew
who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was
the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake. And this thought
having occurred to him, he had it proclaim throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to
anyone who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the necessary
people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do. And learned men came to
the king, but they all answered his questions differently. In reply to the first question, some said that to
know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance a table of days, months, and years,
and must live strictly according to it. Only thus, said they, could everything be done at its proper time.
Others declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action, but that,
not letting oneself absorbed in idle pastime, one should always attend to all that was going on, and then
do what was most needful. 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 council of wise men who would help him to fix the proper time for everything. But then
again others said there were some things which could not wait to be laid before a council, but about
which one had at once to decide whether to undertake them or not. But in order to decide that, one
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. Equally various were the
answers to the second question. Some said the people the king most needed were his councilors;
others, the priest; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary. To the
third question, as to what was the important occupation, 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.
All the answers being different, the king agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. But
still wishing to find the right answer to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned
for his wisdom. The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he receive none but common
folk. So the king put on simple clothes and, before reaching the hermit’s cell, dismounted from his
horse. Leaving his bodyguard behind, he went on alone. When the king approached, the hermit was
digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the king, he greeted him 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
breathed heavily. The king went up to him and said: “I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to
answer three question: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the right people
I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are
the most important and need my first attention?” 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 awhile for you” “thanks!” said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the king, he sat
down on the ground. When he had dug two beds, 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 awhile-
and let me work a bit.” But the king 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 question. If you can give me none, tell
me so, and I will return home.” “Here comes someone running,” said the hermit. “ Let us see who is it.”
The king turned round 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 under them. When he reached the king, he fell
fainting on the ground, moaning feebly. The king and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. There
was a large wound in his stomach. The king washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his
handkerchief and with a towel he hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the king again
and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and re bandaged the wound.
When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The king
brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the king,
with the hermit’s help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed,
the man closed his eyes and he was quiet; but the king was so tired from his walk and from the work he
had done that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep so soundly that he slept at all
through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember
where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with
shining eyes. “Forgive me!” said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the king was awake
and was looking at him. “I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,” said the king. “You do
not know, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge himself on you, because you
executed his brother and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I
resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out from my
ambush to find you, and came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I
escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you,
and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave,
and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!” The king was very glad to 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 is
servants and his own physician to attend him and promised to restore his property. Having taken leave
of the wounded man, the king went out into the porch and looked for the hermit. Before going away he
wished once more to beg an answer to the question he had put. The hermit was outside, on his knees,
sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before. The king approached him and said, “For the
last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man.” “You have already been answered!” said the
hermit, still crouching on his thin legs, and looking up at the king, who stood before him. “ How
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 these beds for me, but had gone your way, that man
would have attack you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me. 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 when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died
without having made 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 only time when we have any power. The most necessary person is the
one whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with anyone else: and the
most important affair is to do that person good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this
life.”