There once was a king. He lived in a big castle, with many courtiers, but he was sad. The walls were crumbling; the roof leaked; the floors groaned; the windows were grimy; there was unimaginable clutter piled high, clogging up each room and passageway.
News of the king's unhappiness spread far and wide, and many tried to help, but the king dismissed them all, since he was the king. What could they know?
Finally, a pedlar knocked at the door of the great castle. Who was this pedlar? The former monarch of a neighbouring kingdom. He had a message for the king.
The king bade him enter, and so he did, and told him: There is a solution. You can be happy and productive once more, but the first thing you need to do is renounce your throne, move out of the castle, and take nothing with you.
Where will I live? Asked the king.
The pedlar continued: There is a homeless shelter nearby. There, you will have everything you need. They will be glad to help you, because you will be homeless. Gradually, you can rebuild a life.
And move back into the castle? Asked the king.
Oh, no, the castle is falling down. You had better leave before its battlements, its buttresses tumble about you. Besides, people like us cannot live in castles. We suffocate in them. The air is too rich and dense. We will show you how to build your own simple hut in the forest, though, which will provide shelter and warmth. Best of all, you will be perfectly happy and perfectly useful, as the forest will provide you with a living.
The king was intrigued, and initially was enthusiastic.
But he made the mistake of asking his courtiers. Sage as they were, they counselled against this plan of action, in all its details, and suggested the king voice their objections and ask many questions. They knew that, if the king left, they too would be homeless.
So the king approached the pedlar, and explained his questions and objections. The pedlar laughed, and said he would not answer any of them. He had said his piece. There was nothing more to say.
An impasse was reached. Eventually, the king sent the pedlar away. He decided to stay on in the castle, and resolved to look on the bright side, instead.