Who a Contented Man is
Once upon a time, in a bygone era, a nobleman of considerable standing had erected a grandiose mansion, the likes of which had not been seen in the region. Driven by an unquenchable desire to discover a man who was truly contented with his life, he had a sign affixed on the front gate with a most intriguing proclamation: “This house in to be given to the first man who can prove that he is contented.”
One fine day, a stranger made his way to the estate and politely requested an audience with the nobleman, having come to stake his claim on the property. The nobleman granted him an audience and inquired as to his purpose. The stranger responded with a declaration of his contentment, laying claim to the house. The nobleman, intrigued, asked him how he could prove his contentment.
The stranger, with a calm and collected demeanor, explained that it was his innate nature to remain content, regardless of whether or not his expectations were met. Unimpressed, the nobleman probed further, asking him to define the essence of a contented man. The stranger replied that a contented man was one who found happiness in what he already possessed, without a desire for more.
In a sudden flash of insight, the nobleman realized that the stranger’s very claim to the house was proof that he was not contented, for if he were, he would not have sought out such grandeur. With a heavy heart, the nobleman uttered a solemn truth: "If you were truly contented, you would not be here seeking to claim this house." The stranger, feeling the sting of shame and a broken heart, silently left the estate. Thus, the nobleman’s search for a contented man continued.
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