This is one of my favorite stories I've ever heard.
A king and his servant rule over a kingdom of thousands of inhabitants: peasants, merchants, knights, all sorts of diverse social classes. For the most part, this kingdom was a peaceful and prosperous setting. Business was constituted as usual, crime was very low around these parts, and the king was happy. The king ruled for many years and began to grow older and older. He watched his kingdom grow with him, but the king had become very sorrowful as his age increased. The king had spent a majority of his wealth and had very little money left to his name. The king had never met a woman to call his wife or to start a loving family with. The king had become more and more frail due to his age, and his strength was ailing. Troubled by the king's recent depression, his servant suggested a proclamation: have all of the citizens of the kingdom come to the palace and prove to the king that they are the happiest person in all of the land. After finding the happiest person, claim their shirt they bare on their back so that the king my inherit their happiness.
The search began. One of the first to be interviewed by the king was a lowly peasant. The king asked "What makes you the happiest man in the world?" The peasant replied, "Why, I have been married to the love of my life for 12 years now. We have raised 3 beautiful children together, and my job as a blacksmith has caused me to grow into a very strong individual. However, I am paid very little for my job, and have little money to support my family. This is the only thing that saddens me." The king deemed this man was not the happiest in the kingdom, and dismissed the peasant.
Another man was brought to the palace, a traveling merchant that resided within the market district of the kingdom. The king asked "What makes you the happiest man in the world?" The merchant replied "I have an extremely successful business selling goods from other kingdoms, this has made me a very rich man. I have also met several women along my travels which keep me in great company. However, I am a very weak man, and do not bear much physical strength. This is the only thing that saddens me." The kind deemed this man was not the happiest in the kingdom, and dismissed the merchant.
Lastly, a majestic and heroic knight was brought into the palace. The king asked "What makes you the happiest man in the world?" The knight replied "My skills in battle have trained me into becoming one of the strongest heroes in all of the kingdom, and many kings have showered me with their wealth for my services. However, my travels have been so extensive that I have not had the time to meet a beautiful maiden to settle with. This is the only thing that saddens me." The king deemed this man was not the happiest in the kingdom, and dismissed the knight.
The king became distraught. The entire kingdom had come to his throne and were not deemed the happiest in the world. The king was nearly about to break down, until a man walked through the palace gates. He was a poor man, dirty from sleeping on the streets of the kingdom and a full beard. The king laughed and thought this man had to be a joke. "Now, sir," the king exclaimed, "what makes you dare to show your presence to me as the happiest man in the world?" The poor man, under a cloth of dirt, smiled at the king. "Your highness, I have not a penny to my name. I have never met any woman who has ever had any interest in me. I am a very weak and frail man from hunger. I am the happiest man in the world."
Upon this information, the king and his servant burst into a bellowing laugh. "You? The happiest man in the world? You are poor! You are lonely! You are weak! You cannot possibly be happy!" The poor man shook his head. "Your highness, I am the happiest man in the world, because I have none of these objects in which to make me sad. I have myself, and I am happy with who I am. I don't need anything else to be happy." The king stared at this man in utter disbelief. "Sir, you are correct. I cannot believe it took me this long to realize this. I must have your shirt in order to inherit the level of happiness you have."
The man laughed in the king's face. The king then realized that the man bore no shirt to give him.
Think about it.
