Leo Tolstoy’s Short Story: ‘Three Questions’

Unsatisfied with counsel from the wise men in his realm, a king seeks advice from a hermit.

“The Old Gardener,” 1885, by Emile Claus. Musee des Beaux-Arts de Liege, Belgium. A king receives a perfect answer from a humble gardener in Tolstoy's "Three Questions." Public Domain

Even before the month starts, our calendars are often booked with many plans.  As we think of the next months, we worry about what we should plan on doing, who we should visit, and what else we should worry about.

In his short story, “Three Questions,” Leo Tolstoy addresses this fixation on time, which can overwhelm our daily life.  With a king’s visit to a hermit, Tolstoy shows how to wisely use the present moment.

The King’s Questions

The king does not want to fail in ruling his kingdom wisely. To do this, believes he must know three things: “The right time to begin everything … who are the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, … what is the most important thing to do.”