Live With a Light Heart: Lessons From Italian Folk Tales

There’s a shared belief in many cultures, from ancient Europe to China, that a person’s fortunes and misfortunes in life are preordained.

"Italian Folktales," compiled by Italo Calvino, republished by The Folio Society. The Folio Society

There’s a shared belief in many cultures, from ancient Europe to China, that a person’s fortunes and misfortunes in life are preordained. In ancient Greece and Rome, philosophy was the study of wisdom, and joy was synonymous with virtue.

A good life came from being a good person, while struggling and fighting to get ahead was seen in many cultures as only a path to short-term gain and long-term suffering.