There was a man who was in Hell and about to be…
““There was a man who was in Hell and about to be re-incarnated, and he said to the King of Re-incarnation, “If you want me to return to the earth as a human being, I will go only on my own conditions.” “And what are they?” asked the King. The man replied, “I must be born the son of a cabinet minister and father of a future ‘Literary Wrangler’ (the scholar who comes out first at the national examinations). I must have ten thousand acres of land surrounding my home and fish ponds and fruits of every kind and a beautiful wife and pretty concubines, all good and loving to me, and rooms stocked to the ceiling with gold and pearls and cellars stocked full of grain and trunks chockful of money, and I myself must be a Grand Councilor or a Duke of the First Rank and enjoy honor and prosperity and live until I am a hundred years old,” And the King of Re-incarnation replied, “If there was such a lot on earth, I would go and be re-incarnated myself, and not give it to you!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A man demands excessive wealth and status for his next life, showing greed and entitlement; the king refuses, highlighting the futility of such desires.
In simple terms: Greed for power and riches leads to endless dissatisfaction.
Key Takeaway
Recognize contentment over material excess.
Themes
greed
materialism
contentment
humility
spirituality
Mood
reflective
critical
philosophical
Type
aphoristic
cautionary
When to use this quote
- career ambition
- political power
- wealth accumulation
- family expectations
- social status
Key Concepts
desire
attachment
impermanence
ethical limits
Questions to Reflect On
- What truly brings lasting fulfillment?
- Can one find peace without material wealth?
A Different Perspective
Even with all riches, true happiness may remain unattainable.