The prime minister of an ancient kingdom died. It was a custom in that land to choose the wisest man in the country for that post. To this end, many were examined and three were chosen. They were sent to the capital for the final test.
When they arrived in the city, they were tense and worried, wondering what the final test would be– like any student. They asked whoever they met if they could tell them what the test was going to be; and were surprised to hear that everyone knew. The king had built a special room that was fitted with a lock that opened only with a mathematical solution. They would be kept within this room, and the first to come out, would become the prime minister.
Two from among them were very worried, but the third made straight for his room and went to
bed. The other two thought; "Maybe he has already given up!” These two ran to the shops and
bought all books that contained information on locks, and sat poring over them the whole night. They knew everything about everything but locks; for they were neither thieves nor locksmiths, nor engineers, nor politicians. They were in a fix! They made inquiries from locksmiths and mathematicians. They asked engineers; they read all night for it was a question of their future; and the sacrifice of one night’s sleep was not too great.
The third contestant got up refreshed after a good night’s rest. He washed his face, got ready and left for the palace with the others. The rumours were correct. The king took them to the house where the much-talked of lock was, and explained: "This lock opens with a mathematical figure. He who opens it first becomes my prime minister. I shall wait outside.”
The three men entered the room, and the door was closed. The one who had slept all night went
into a corner, and sat with his eyes closed. The other two laughed: "Can locks be opened by closing the eyes?” They jeered. They dismissed him for a stupid fellow, and plunged into their work. They brought out the books they had smuggled in. and began to pore over them.
As soon as the doors closed, they drew out their books. The third man sat for about half an hour.
Then he walked silently up to the door. The other two were too busy to notice him. When he reached the door, he tried the lock. Lo, it was open! All he had to do was to walk out! The king came in and told the other two to fold up their books. He had chosen his prime minister.
”The man who was to come out, has come out!” he said.
”But how could he? He had done nothing!”
”There was nothing to be done,” said the king. ”The lock was merely hung, and not fastened. I had gathered that the most intelligent of you will not first inspect whether the lock was really locked.” Before solving a problem, is it not necessary to first find out whether the problem actually exists? If it exists, it needs to be solved but if it does not, how can it be solved? This man demonstrated his wisdom. He first set out to know whether the problem existed. That is the first sign of an intelligent man.
When they arrived in the city, they were tense and worried, wondering what the final test would be– like any student. They asked whoever they met if they could tell them what the test was going to be; and were surprised to hear that everyone knew. The king had built a special room that was fitted with a lock that opened only with a mathematical solution. They would be kept within this room, and the first to come out, would become the prime minister.
Two from among them were very worried, but the third made straight for his room and went to
bed. The other two thought; "Maybe he has already given up!” These two ran to the shops and
bought all books that contained information on locks, and sat poring over them the whole night. They knew everything about everything but locks; for they were neither thieves nor locksmiths, nor engineers, nor politicians. They were in a fix! They made inquiries from locksmiths and mathematicians. They asked engineers; they read all night for it was a question of their future; and the sacrifice of one night’s sleep was not too great.
The third contestant got up refreshed after a good night’s rest. He washed his face, got ready and left for the palace with the others. The rumours were correct. The king took them to the house where the much-talked of lock was, and explained: "This lock opens with a mathematical figure. He who opens it first becomes my prime minister. I shall wait outside.”
The three men entered the room, and the door was closed. The one who had slept all night went
into a corner, and sat with his eyes closed. The other two laughed: "Can locks be opened by closing the eyes?” They jeered. They dismissed him for a stupid fellow, and plunged into their work. They brought out the books they had smuggled in. and began to pore over them.
As soon as the doors closed, they drew out their books. The third man sat for about half an hour.
Then he walked silently up to the door. The other two were too busy to notice him. When he reached the door, he tried the lock. Lo, it was open! All he had to do was to walk out! The king came in and told the other two to fold up their books. He had chosen his prime minister.
”The man who was to come out, has come out!” he said.
”But how could he? He had done nothing!”
”There was nothing to be done,” said the king. ”The lock was merely hung, and not fastened. I had gathered that the most intelligent of you will not first inspect whether the lock was really locked.” Before solving a problem, is it not necessary to first find out whether the problem actually exists? If it exists, it needs to be solved but if it does not, how can it be solved? This man demonstrated his wisdom. He first set out to know whether the problem existed. That is the first sign of an intelligent man.
No comments:
Post a Comment