Wise King
Live your life in such a way that when you leave this world, you are laughing and the world is crying.
Long ago, in a distant kingdom, there was a tradition that a new king would be elected every year. The person who ascended the throne would sign an agreement that at the end of the year he would have to step down from the throne and then be left alone on a deserted island, from where there was no possibility of returning. As soon as a king’s term ended, he would be dressed in royal robes, given a final tour of the city on an elephant, and then sent off towards the island.
On one such occasion, when the subjects were returning after leaving their old king on the island, they met a young man on the way who had escaped a shipwreck. Since the next king was to be elected, the people invited him to ascend the throne.
At first, the young man hesitated, but compromising with the circumstances, he agreed to become king for a year.
He was informed of all the rules and regulations of the government and was also told that he would also be left on the same deserted island when his term of power was over.
On the third day of becoming king, the young man requested his minister to show him the island where the past kings had been released. A special convoy set out as per the king's wish.
The island was full of dangerous wildlife and deep forests. Upon reaching there, the young king saw that the skeletons of the previous kings were still scattered there. He was shaken but did not lose heart. Upon returning, he selected some hardworking workers and took them with him to the island again. He ordered that the entire island be cleaned, all the bloodthirsty beasts be killed and unnecessary trees be cut down and the land leveled.
He himself would inspect the island every month. Soon the dangerous animals disappeared from there, and the land became cleaner.
From the second month, beautiful gardens were built on the island. Various types of domestic animals were moved there. In the third month, he built a grand palace and also established a port. Over time, that deserted island began to turn into a beautiful and lush settlement.
This king was very simple in nature. He himself spent little and spent most of his wealth on the development of the island. After ten months, he told the prime minister that he now wanted to move to the island. But the ministers insisted that he should wait until the term was over.
Finally, the year was over. According to tradition, he was dressed in royal clothes, mounted on an elephant and given a tour of the city.
But contrary to tradition, this king had a smile on his face. People were surprised and asked: “When all the other kings cried on this occasion, why are you happy?”
He replied in a calm tone: “I heard those wise people say that when you are born, you cry and the world laughs.” Live your life in such a way that when you leave this world, you are laughing and the world is crying. During my reign, instead of getting lost in the colors, I thought about the future. I made that island, which was a message of death for others, a paradise for myself. Now I will spend the rest of my life there in peace. That is why the wise are those who leave behind temporary glory and prepare for the future, and I did the same.
About the Creator
Echoes of Life
I’m a storyteller and lifelong learner who writes about history, human experiences, animals, and motivational lessons that spark change. Through true stories, thoughtful advice, and reflections on life.
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No one ever noticed the days he almost gave up. There were no messages asking if he was okay. No one wondered why he became quieter. No one asked how much effort it took just to keep going. To the world, he was just another ordinary man. His name was Ayaan. Ayaan’s life didn’t collapse in one dramatic moment. It slowly faded. Missed opportunities. Rejected ideas. Silent disappointments. Every failure was small, but together they became heavy. He had dreams once. Big ones. Dreams that kept him awake at night, imagining a future where his hard work would finally matter. But over time, those dreams began to feel unrealistic—almost embarrassing. People around him seemed to move forward effortlessly. They celebrated promotions, achievements, and milestones. Ayaan watched from the side, smiling politely while feeling invisible. At work, his efforts were ignored. Among friends, his voice faded. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him. Slowly, a dangerous thought settled into his mind: “Maybe I’m not good enough.” That thought followed him everywhere. It followed him on crowded buses. It followed him into sleepless nights. It followed him every time he tried again and failed. One night, after scrolling through endless success stories online, Ayaan closed his phone and stared at the dark ceiling. His chest felt tight, not because of pain—but because of exhaustion. He whispered quietly, “How long do I keep trying?” There was no answer. But that night, Ayaan made a decision—not a loud one, not a confident one. A tired decision. He decided to keep going, even if nothing changed. The next morning felt the same. The same routine. The same doubts. The same fear of wasting his life. But Ayaan showed up anyway. He worked when no one praised him. He studied when no one guided him. He practiced when no one believed in him. Some days, motivation disappeared completely. On those days, discipline took over. He reminded himself: “I don’t need applause. I need progress.” Weeks passed. Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden success. No recognition. No miracle. But something subtle began to shift. Ayaan became calmer under pressure. He learned to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. He stopped comparing his journey to others. The silence that once scared him now became his training ground. Months later, a serious problem appeared at his workplace. It was complicated, risky, and easy to blame on someone else. Most people avoided it. Some pretended it wasn’t their responsibility. Ayaan didn’t announce himself. He didn’t seek attention. He simply started working. Late nights. Mistakes. Corrections. Learning. There were moments he wanted to quit. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not ready.” But he answered back, “I’ll learn.” Slowly, the problem began to disappear. Not perfectly—but steadily. People noticed, quietly. One afternoon, his manager called him into the office. Ayaan expected criticism. Instead, he heard a question that stunned him: “Where did you learn all this?” Ayaan paused. How could he explain years of silent effort? How could he explain working when no one cared? He simply replied, “I kept going.” That moment didn’t change his life overnight. He didn’t become famous. He didn’t suddenly become successful. But it changed something far more important. His belief in himself. For the first time, Ayaan understood that life doesn’t always reward effort immediately. Sometimes, it watches. It watches who continues without praise. Who improves without recognition. Who grows in silence. Years later, Ayaan looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who thought no one was watching. And he smiled. Because he finally understood the truth: Life was always watching. Not to judge. Not to rush. But to see if he would keep going when it was hardest. The world doesn’t reward those who only work when they’re seen. It rewards those who build strength in silence. And sometimes, the moment that changes everything doesn’t come with applause. It comes quietly. After patience. After effort. After consistency. That is when everything finally begins to change. Final Message Keep going—even when no one is watching. Especially then.
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