The Philosopher’s Truth

There was a king who knew a philosopher. One day, while the king was riding his horse through the streets, he saw the philosopher walking slowly.

“Hello, gentleman, where are you going?” the king asked.

“I don’t know,” replied the philosopher.

The answer annoyed the king. “Don’t be so insolent! You should answer my question in a matter-of-fact manner. Let me ask you once again: What is your destination?”

“I don’t know!” was the philosopher’s reply.

The infuriated king looked at his bodyguards and ordered them to throw the philosopher into jail. His command was promptly carried out.

However, by evening, the king began to feel uneasy about his action. He decided to meet the philosopher in his prison cell and asked him, “Why did you not speak the truth?”

“My lord, don’t you realize even now that I spoke nothing but the truth? I was enjoying a stroll absentmindedly. Did I ever dream that my destination would be the prison?”

The king reflected on the philosopher’s words, recognized the truth in them, and apologized for his actions.