Wealth, Happiness or Wisdom

I’m sitting on a comfortable sofa in a far away room. Wealth, happiness and wisdom are sitting next to me. I’m carefully observing these three goals.

Wealth stands up. It steps forward and looks at me. Then it starts talking:

“You’re allowed to choose one of us. But only one of us. You should choose me! I’ll make you powerful and happy. Don’t waste your chance, don’t go for happiness. Don’t choose wisdom either. Wisdom is unnecessary once you’re rich and happy.”

I decide to think about it.

If wealth is telling the truth, then I really don’t need to choose happiness. But happiness doesn’t seem to like wealth all too much. So it would probably dislike me if I preferred wealth. That means I wouldn’t become happy choosing wealth. Wealth has to be a liar. Plus, it couldn’t give me any good reason for not choosing wisdom.

Happiness stands up. It turns towards me and starts speaking:

“Better choose me. There’s nothing more important than happiness. I’m the ultimate goal. And what’s life without happiness? … It’s nothing but pain!”

I decide to think about it.

The words of happiness seem to be reasonable. Without happiness, you can’t enjoy life. But happiness only talked about itself. What about wisdom? What would happen if I choosed wisdom? I didn’t listen to it yet.

So I finally turn my head to wisdom to listen to it. Silence. Then it looks at me. But still, it doesn’t say a word. Not even a sound, nothing.

I decide to think about it.

Why did it remain silent? Doesn’t it want to be chosen?

I think about the three goals. Wealth is a liar, happiness seems to be honest, wisdom didn’t say anything yet. Wealth and happiness tried to influence me, wisdom remained silent.

If I picked wealth, I’d get nothing but wealth. I’m not sure what I’d get if I picked happiness. And I absolutely don’t know what would happen if I picked wisdom…

I look at wisdom one more time. It returns my look and suddenly I understand. I already choosed wisdom. I made my decision the moment I decided to think.

I smile at wisdom and leave the room, reentering reality, being happy with my decision.