Knowing Yourself is the Beginning of All Wisdom

A red cardinal was having a walk in the woods with three wise men: Aristotle, Lao Tzu and Budda.

The cardinal, always obsessed with his look, said to the wise men: “I was born to stand out. I love this look!”

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom”, Aristotle calmly responded.

The cardinal was thrilled with the compliment from one of the wisest men ever lived. 

Sensing that the cardinal might have misinterpreted the advice, Lao Tzu said, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

After a long silence, Budda added his thoughts: “Whatever is not yours: let go of it. Your letting go of it will be for your long-term happiness and benefit”.

Obviously confused, the cardinal paused, looking into the reflections in the mirror, and asked: “Which one of us are they speaking to now?”

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