Leo Tolstoy’s Short Story: ‘Three Questions’

“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.”

Eager to know the answers to his questions, the king announces that he'll provide a reward to anyone who can provide answers. Many wise men flock to the court to respond to the king’s three questions, but none can produce an adequate answer.

“How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time?” To the first question, the wise men give several unsatisfactory answers. Some say that the king must plan ahead days, weeks, and months to adequately do the right thing at the right time. Others claim that the king must not engage in idle practices, but must be forever attentive. There are many different answers, but all proved inadequate.

“Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest?” To the second question: “Some said, the people the King most needed were his councilors; others, the priests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary.”

“And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?” In reply to the third question, some wise men suggest science, others warfare, and others religion.

The Time Is Now

Exhausted by the conflicting counsel of the wise men, the king visits a widely renowned hermit. Upon arriving at the hermit’s dwelling in the woods, the king asks his three questions. However, the hermit does not answer, but continues digging in his garden.

As the king watches, he realizes that the hermit grows weary. “Let me take the spade and work awhile for you,” the king says. He takes it from the old hermit. While the king is digging, the hermit notices another man approaching and gives the king the best answer.

Through this story, Tolstoy emphasizes the importance of the current moment. He stresses the duty we have to make best use of the now, the present. We must seek to not only better ourselves, but also help and love those around us.

In “The Light in the Heart,” Roy T. Bennett repeats Tolstoy’s message when he says: “If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.”

Rather than planning, worrying, and obsessing over the things we didn’t do, the things we need to do, or the things we need to focus on, Tolstoy encourages us to embrace the now. By focusing on the present, we can achieve the goodness and kindness that are necessary and needed.

What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to [email protected]