You can not deny the right to each person to have their ambitions, to take advantage of the opportunity of life that has been granted. But one should not let oneself be trapped by ambition, especially when it can harm others, since if one does not know how to handle, one can unleash the power and want to control everything.
He was an old emperor, somewhat tired. A secret grief had eaten him up: he had no children. He often left the court and went with a few faithful and discreet servants to a hermit's house. He lived not far from the capital, in a simple hut of branches near a ruined pagoda. Sitting on a tree trunk, the emperor watched the monk pray, meditate, cut wood and the glow of the ax to the beat of his blows under the sun.
I have been contemplating for years how you live; you are active, energetic, generous and wise. I am growing old and I have no children. Do you want to succeed me? Do you want to be emperor?
At that startling question, the monk did not answer a word.Imagine the pleasures, the wealth, the absolute power, the right to life and death over everything that breathes in this country. You could have a palace or a temple built here. Do you notice temptation?
The monk left the ax, recomposed the clothes and said:
"I'm going to go to the bank of the river to wash my ears, stained by his words.
He went to the river where he met a peasant, who used to go there with his cow to drink.At this time you wash your ears? The peasant asked him.
"Yes, the emperor's words have been dirtied to me." He has proposed that I should succeed him and rise to the throne.I understand that you wash! Said the peasant, and in these conditions I will not let the cow drink from this polluted water.
In the contempt of ambition lies one of the essential principles of happiness on earth. Sentence said by Voltaire.