By Leo Tolstoy
It once occurred to a certain king， that if he always knewthe right time to begin everything； if he knew who were theright people to listen to， and whom to avoid； and， above all， ifhe always knew what was the most important thing to do， hewould never fail in anything he might undertake.
And this thought having occurred to him， he had itproclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give agreat reward to any one who would teach him what was theright time for every action， and who were the most necessarypeople， and how he might know what was the most importantthing to do.
And learned men came to the King， but they all answered hisquestions differently.
In reply to the first question， some said that to know the righttime for every action， one must draw up in advance， a tableof days， months and years， and must live strictly accordingto it. Only thus， said they， could everything be done at itsproper time. Others declared that it was impossible to decidebeforehand the right time for every action； but that， not lettingoneself be absorbed in idle pastimes， one should always attendto all that was going on， and then do what was most needful.
Others， again， said that however attentive the King might beto what was going on， it was impossible for one man to decidecorrectly the right time for every action， but that he shouldhave a Council of wise men， who would help him to fix theproper time for everything.
But then again others said there were some things whichcould not wait to be laid before a Council， but about whichone had at once to decide whether to undertake them or not.
But in order to decide that， one must know beforehand whatwas going to happen. It is only magicians who know that； and，therefore， in order to know the right time for every action， onemust consult magicians.
Equally various were the answers to the second question.
Some said， the people the King most needed were hiscouncillors； others， the priests； others， the doctors； while somesaid the warriors were the most necessary.
To the third question， as to what was the most importantoccupation： some replied that the most important thing in theworld was science. Others said it was skill in warfare； andothers， again， that it was religious worship.
All the answers being different， the King agreed with noneof them， and gave the reward to none. But still wishing tofind the right answers to his questions， he decided to consult ahermit， widely renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted， and hereceived none but common folk. So the King put on simpleclothes， and before reaching the hermit’s cell dismounted fromhis horse， and， leaving his body-guard behind， went on alone.
When the King approached， the hermit was digging theground in front of his hut. Seeing the King， he greeted him andwent on digging. The hermit was frail and weak， and each timehe stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth， hebreathed heavily.
The King went up to him and said： “I have come to you，wise hermit， to ask you to answer three questions： How canI learn to do the right thing at the right time？ Who are thepeople I most need， and to whom should I， therefore， paymore attention than to the rest？ And， what affairs are the mostimportant， and need my first attention？”
The hermit listened to the King， but answered nothing. Hejust spat on his hand and recommenced digging.
“You are tired，” said the King， “let me take the spade andwork 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 repeatedhis 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 continuedto dig. One hour passed， and another. The sun began to sinkbehind the trees， and the King at last stuck the spade into theground， and said：