This first week of the course World Literature, I read the story “Three Questions” by Leo

Tolstoy. This story attracts me because of its great content and the interesting flow of the story.
I was curious of the questions in the story and what are their roles in the author’s point of view.
From the story, in which a king was a main character who was asking three questions to his
people and a sage: When is the best moment to do something? Who are the most crucial
individuals to interact with? What is the most crucial factor? (Tolstoy,1885).
In my opinion, as per Asian culture, a King is a ruler who has all the power and wisdom. He
must know when and how to do something for his people. In this scenario, the King as his people
when is the best moment to perform an action. Of course, receiving advice is always a good
thing to do, but the King must ask his officials or his councilors first. In the story, the King is just
a character, not a real King. The story highlights the importance of the present time “NOW”. I
totally agree with this concept as now is the most essential time when we have true power. We
can not know what will happen next and can not take back what has happened.
I have read many works of a well-known philosopher who also mentioned the importance of
NOW and he taught the way how to make the most with living with the presence. In the present
time, all our breath, our thought, our behaviors are the most important things in life.

References:

Tolstoy, L. (1885).The Three Questions. http://www.onlineliterature.com/Tolstoy/2736