It once occurred to a certain king that if he always knew the right time to begin everything: if he knew who were the right people to listen to and whom to avoid and , above all if he always knew what was the most important thing to do , he would never fail in anything he might undertake. And this thought having occurred to him , he had it proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would tell him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people , and how he might know what was the most important thing to do. And learned men came to the king , but they all answered his questions differently. In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance a table of days , months, and years , and must live strictly according to it . only thus, said they , could everything be done at its proper time. Others declared that it was going and then do what was most needful
