The Optimist and the Pessimist

Rána Eressëa · 05-28-2002, 10:53 PM

This is an interesting little fable I read in 7th grade that I thought I'd share with everyone. I know quite a few people who would like it (afro-elf and BoP, particularly).

The Optimist and the Pessimist

A long time ago in a land that was not too far from here, there was a king who had two sons. One son, Adam, was an incurable optimist. The other son, Argot, was a pessimist. Adam and Argot were twins, and there was a great debate in the kingdom over which son should take the throne when the king died. Before he died, the king decided that the council of his closest advisers would make the decision.

After the king died, the council decided that Adam and Argot should walk through the kingdom and have a debate over whether it was good or bad. The brother who won the debate was to be king. And so it came to pass that Adam, Argot, and the council walked through the kingdom.

As they walked, they came upon some starving peasants. "Look," Argot said, "they have no food and they are starving. Surely this is proof that the world is a terrible place."

"No," Adam replied, "for lack of sustenance refines the soul. They may have no food, but they are learning a great lesson. Patience is more valuable than food."

Walking a little farther, they came upon a blind man. "Surely the world is a terrible place, when God allows men to go blind!" Argot said.

"Again you are wrong," Adam replied. "Though this man cannot see, his other senses have grown stronger. He can tell if men are lying by the sound of their voices. He is better off blind."

Finally they came upon a sick man who was about to die. "This is terrible!" Argot exclaimed. "A man dies by the side of the road, and no one cares enough to help him. This is proof that the world is a terrible place."

"All men die," Adam answered. "It is not a bad thing to die. This man will soon be with God."

"I have heard enough," said one of the council members. "It is obvious to me who would make a better ruler. Adam showed that the starving peasants were learning the lesson of patience. He showed that the blind man had superior senses, and that the dying man was better off dead. What can Argot possibly say now?"

"Permit me, if you will, to give a small demonstration," Argot said. "Is the primary goal of the ruler to help the people?"

"Yes, of course," the council replied.

"How can a ruler help the people if he cannot see their problems?" Argot asked.

"I would be able to see their problems, if they had any," Adam said. "But I assure you that they don't."

"You believe that the blind man was better off blind?" Argot asked them all.

"Yes," they answered together.

"Then close your eyes," Argot instructed. "All of you, close your eyes. Now, do you believe that patience is better than food?"

"Yes," they answered again, their eyes tightly closed.

"Then I ask that no one open their eyes until I command it," Argot said.

Silently, Argot drew his sword and slew his brother. He then cleaned his sword and put it away. "Open your eyes now," he said.

"Oh, my God," they cried, "Adam is dead! You have killed your own brother!"

"Then your decision should be an easy one," Argot replied.

"But we would have chosen Adam!" one of the council members said.

"I have won the debate," Argot explained. "Being blind prevented you from stopping me from murdering my brother. Thus, being blind is not so good. Being patient kept you from opening your eyes and seeing what I was doing. Thus, being patient is not so good. And if people are better off dead, then my brother is better off dead, and what I did is justified. Adam is dead, and so you must proclaim me King."

"Well spoken, Argot," the highest council member said. Then he turned to the others. "I believe that Argot is the new king."

All the council agreed, and so it was that Argot the Great ascended to the throne. He ruled for many years, and though he was unhappy most of the time, the land and the people prospered.

afro-elf · 05-28-2002, 11:26 PM

Kudos kid. When you get your own kindgom let me know.

BeardofPants · 05-28-2002, 11:43 PM

That story just made my day.

Watch it, filthy optimists.

*This pinky leftist vegetarian goes off to get her gun... er... carrot.*

Elfmaster XK · 05-29-2002, 05:38 AM

You know, you seem rather perceptive for a halfwit!

Is anyone here think of themselves as optomistic?

*joins other leftist vegetarian to get the gun...i meant carrot too*

Rána Eressëa · 05-29-2002, 09:24 AM

The glass is half-empty, thank you very much.

StrawberryIcecream · 05-29-2002, 01:05 PM

I'm a known pessimist. stops me being too disappointed with life.

anyway the glass thing is a load of rubbish anyway. if you have filled it upi to half way it is half full, i fyou drankhalf a full glass its half empty.

I like marvin out of hitchhikers. hes a figurehead pessimist!

Wayfarer · 05-29-2002, 01:19 PM

I think it's debatable whether argot was really a pessimist...

to say that blindness, starvation, and death are bad really isn't that pessimistic.

***Earniel*** · 05-29-2002, 01:35 PM

*eyes own sister across the room* Mmmmm, an inheritage.... er I mean off course, idea is coming to my mind....

Arathorn · 05-29-2002, 02:06 PM

[kidding]
Argot sure was optimistic he could pull that one off.

It was probably Adam double-crossing Argot while they were playing a Prince and the Pauper gig on the council...

[/kidding]

I think neither a true optimist nor a true pessimist is fit to rule. A true optimist (about everything) will not see the problems while a true pessimist (about everything) will not even try to lead.

Lizra · 05-29-2002, 02:12 PM

I masquerade as an optimist, but unfortunately am a pessimist deep down. It's not much "fun" to be around a true pessimist, so I try to watch it and not be a drag!

BeardofPants · 05-29-2002, 02:54 PM

Yeah, I guess I'm more of a sarcastic cynic, than a full on pessimist. Still, those eternal optimists bug me. They need to be subjucated.

StrawberryIcecream · 05-29-2002, 03:02 PM

Were all goign to die one day. every second counting down. and yet were wasting our time on a computer. ah well who cares. wee might be dead tomorrow.

*sigh*

Rána Eressëa · 05-29-2002, 04:07 PM

Just 'cause someone says you're an optimist or pessimist doesn't mean you're a hundred percent that. You're just usually that.

And, yeah, Argot was a pessimist - or at least he was compared to Adam.

Plus, if anyone kept complaining "the world is a terrible place", I'd say they were pessimistic, wouldn't you?

BeardofPants · 05-29-2002, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayfarer
to say that blindness, starvation, and death are bad really isn't that pessimistic.

Hurling the spanner again are we?

I'd say more realism.

Rána Eressëa · 05-29-2002, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BeardofPants

I'd say more realism.

And optimists are far from being realistic.

***Earniel*** · 05-29-2002, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StrawberryIcecream
Were all goign to die one day. every second counting down. and yet were wasting our time on a computer. ah well who cares. wee might be dead tomorrow.

IEP!!

We are!?!?! Nooooo!!! Oh....wait..... I already knew that!

I like wasting my time on Dave and Willie

FrodoFriend · 05-29-2002, 09:41 PM

Too bad one of the brothers wasn't a halfwit. Then it would've been obvious who should be king.

Arathorn · 05-29-2002, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BeardofPants

I'd say more realism.

Hear, hear!

***Khamûl*** · 05-30-2002, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by StrawberryIcecream
Were all goign to die one day. every second counting down. and yet were wasting our time on a computer. ah well who cares. wee might be dead tomorrow.

*sigh*

Hello, sunshine!

I have a tendency to be optimistic in that I can see the bright side of almost anything, but I also am realistic and keep my hopes down most of the time to keep from getting disappointed. What would you classify me as? Optimist, pessimist, or what?

Lizra · 05-30-2002, 07:44 AM

smart!

A pleasant person to be around, but not a fool. (actually, keep your hopes up Khamul, there's good stuff out there, occasionally you might snag some!)

05-28-2002, 10:53 PM	#1
Rána Eressëa The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	The Optimist and the Pessimist This is an interesting little fable I read in 7th grade that I thought I'd share with everyone. I know quite a few people who would like it (afro-elf and BoP, particularly). The Optimist and the Pessimist A long time ago in a land that was not too far from here, there was a king who had two sons. One son, Adam, was an incurable optimist. The other son, Argot, was a pessimist. Adam and Argot were twins, and there was a great debate in the kingdom over which son should take the throne when the king died. Before he died, the king decided that the council of his closest advisers would make the decision. After the king died, the council decided that Adam and Argot should walk through the kingdom and have a debate over whether it was good or bad. The brother who won the debate was to be king. And so it came to pass that Adam, Argot, and the council walked through the kingdom. As they walked, they came upon some starving peasants. "Look," Argot said, "they have no food and they are starving. Surely this is proof that the world is a terrible place." "No," Adam replied, "for lack of sustenance refines the soul. They may have no food, but they are learning a great lesson. Patience is more valuable than food." Walking a little farther, they came upon a blind man. "Surely the world is a terrible place, when God allows men to go blind!" Argot said. "Again you are wrong," Adam replied. "Though this man cannot see, his other senses have grown stronger. He can tell if men are lying by the sound of their voices. He is better off blind." Finally they came upon a sick man who was about to die. "This is terrible!" Argot exclaimed. "A man dies by the side of the road, and no one cares enough to help him. This is proof that the world is a terrible place." "All men die," Adam answered. "It is not a bad thing to die. This man will soon be with God." "I have heard enough," said one of the council members. "It is obvious to me who would make a better ruler. Adam showed that the starving peasants were learning the lesson of patience. He showed that the blind man had superior senses, and that the dying man was better off dead. What can Argot possibly say now?" "Permit me, if you will, to give a small demonstration," Argot said. "Is the primary goal of the ruler to help the people?" "Yes, of course," the council replied. "How can a ruler help the people if he cannot see their problems?" Argot asked. "I would be able to see their problems, if they had any," Adam said. "But I assure you that they don't." "You believe that the blind man was better off blind?" Argot asked them all. "Yes," they answered together. "Then close your eyes," Argot instructed. "All of you, close your eyes. Now, do you believe that patience is better than food?" "Yes," they answered again, their eyes tightly closed. "Then I ask that no one open their eyes until I command it," Argot said. Silently, Argot drew his sword and slew his brother. He then cleaned his sword and put it away. "Open your eyes now," he said. "Oh, my God," they cried, "Adam is dead! You have killed your own brother!" "Then your decision should be an easy one," Argot replied. "But we would have chosen Adam!" one of the council members said. "I have won the debate," Argot explained. "Being blind prevented you from stopping me from murdering my brother. Thus, being blind is not so good. Being patient kept you from opening your eyes and seeing what I was doing. Thus, being patient is not so good. And if people are better off dead, then my brother is better off dead, and what I did is justified. Adam is dead, and so you must proclaim me King." "Well spoken, Argot," the highest council member said. Then he turned to the others. "I believe that Argot is the new king." All the council agreed, and so it was that Argot the Great ascended to the throne. He ruled for many years, and though he was unhappy most of the time, the land and the people prospered. Last edited by Rána Eressëa : 05-28-2002 at 10:57 PM.

05-28-2002, 11:26 PM	#2
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	Kudos kid. When you get your own kindgom let me know. __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

05-28-2002, 11:43 PM	#3
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	That story just made my day. Watch it, filthy optimists. This pinky leftist vegetarian goes off to get her gun... er... carrot. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

05-29-2002, 05:38 AM	#4
Elfmaster XK Possessive Villain Fancier Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: On my ship, riding the waves YARR! Posts: 2,008	You know, you seem rather perceptive for a halfwit! Is anyone here think of themselves as optomistic? joins other leftist vegetarian to get the gun...i meant carrot too __________________ My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies, Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly - my friends. XK

05-29-2002, 01:05 PM	#6
StrawberryIcecream Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: In my jeans Posts: 915	I'm a known pessimist. stops me being too disappointed with life. anyway the glass thing is a load of rubbish anyway. if you have filled it upi to half way it is half full, i fyou drankhalf a full glass its half empty. I like marvin out of hitchhikers. hes a figurehead pessimist! __________________ www.foolofatook.com for all you pippin's out there.

05-29-2002, 09:24 AM	#5
Rána Eressëa The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	The glass is half-empty, thank you very much.

05-29-2002, 01:19 PM	#7
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	I think it's debatable whether argot was really a pessimist... to say that blindness, starvation, and death are bad really isn't that pessimistic. __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

05-29-2002, 01:35 PM	#8
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	eyes own sister across the room Mmmmm, an inheritage.... er I mean off course, idea is coming to my mind.... __________________ We are not things.

05-29-2002, 02:06 PM	#9
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	[kidding] Argot sure was optimistic he could pull that one off. It was probably Adam double-crossing Argot while they were playing a Prince and the Pauper gig on the council...[/kidding] I think neither a true optimist nor a true pessimist is fit to rule. A true optimist (about everything) will not see the problems while a true pessimist (about everything) will not even try to lead. __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures... Last edited by Arathorn : 05-29-2002 at 02:21 PM.

05-29-2002, 02:12 PM	#10
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	I masquerade as an optimist, but unfortunately am a pessimist deep down. It's not much "fun" to be around a true pessimist, so I try to watch it and not be a drag! __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats!

05-29-2002, 02:54 PM	#11
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Yeah, I guess I'm more of a sarcastic cynic, than a full on pessimist. Still, those eternal optimists bug me. They need to be subjucated. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

05-29-2002, 03:02 PM	#12
StrawberryIcecream Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: In my jeans Posts: 915	Were all goign to die one day. every second counting down. and yet were wasting our time on a computer. ah well who cares. wee might be dead tomorrow. sigh __________________ www.foolofatook.com for all you pippin's out there.

05-29-2002, 04:07 PM	#13
Rána Eressëa The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	Just 'cause someone says you're an optimist or pessimist doesn't mean you're a hundred percent that. You're just usually that. And, yeah, Argot was a pessimist - or at least he was compared to Adam. Plus, if anyone kept complaining "the world is a terrible place", I'd say they were pessimistic, wouldn't you?

05-29-2002, 09:41 PM	#17
FrodoFriend Halfwitted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Eryn Vorn Posts: 1,659	Too bad one of the brothers wasn't a halfwit. Then it would've been obvious who should be king. __________________ Fingolfin lives! ... in my finger! The Crossroads of Arda - Warning. Halfwit content. Not appropriate for people with IQ of over 18. The Fellowship of the Message Board Nyáréonié - The Tale of Tears

05-30-2002, 07:44 AM	#20
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	smart! A pleasant person to be around, but not a fool. (actually, keep your hopes up Khamul, there's good stuff out there, occasionally you might snag some!) __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats! Last edited by Lizra : 05-30-2002 at 07:47 AM.