Question

What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answers do you like the most and why?

Answer 1

Hint:The narrative is told in the style of a parable, and it revolves around a king who seeks answers to the three most essential questions in life. He consults intelligent men, offering a big amount to anybody who can answer those questions, but their responses were too varied, and the king was not satisfied.

Complete answer:
The king dispatched emissaries in all directions in search of anyone who might provide answers to these inquiries. There were many wise men present, yet their responses were all different. For the first question, some of them thought the king should stick to a schedule, while others said it was impossible to predict the best moment to accomplish things ahead of time.

In response to the second question, some wise men said that the monarch should listen to his counsellors, while others suggested that the king should listen to the priest. Then there were many who believed that the king should obey the doctor, while others favoured troops. For the third question, some wise men said that science should be the king's top priority, while others suggested religion.

The hermit's responses to the three questions were as follows:
1. The best time to act is “right now,” because it is the only moment we have.
2. Because we never know what will happen in the future, the most important person is the person you are with right now.
3. The most essential thing to do is to do good to the individual since it is the only reason we are here on this planet.

To the third question, the hermit said that the most essential thing is to do good for the person with whom one is conversing. This is due to the fact that everyone was put on this planet just for that purpose. Each of the answers is connected to the others and has its own meaning.

Note: Leo Tolstoy tackles the themes of knowledge, acceptance, kindness, and forgiveness in his short story "Three Questions." The narrative revolves around a king who seeks enlightenment by learning the answers to the three questions.