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Near the coast of ancient Greece, at the foot of the mountains, there was a city where the Question Tree grew. It was said that this tree would ask a question to anyone who stopped in its shade, and whoever could answer it would move on.

Whoever could not answer it would stay there.

A young philosopher, Leon, came to the city. He had read a lot of books, so he was sure that the tree would not be able to stop him. When he came into the shade, the leaves rustled and the question echoed:
“What do you know?”

Leon gave a long answer – compliments, arguments, examples. The tree remained silent.

He came again the next day, this time he spoke briefly, but still the answer was there. The tree was silent again.

On the third day, Leon came empty-handed. He said:
“I do not know.”

The branches of the tree shook, the path opened up. Ahead was a narrow passage through which the elders of the city passed. When Leon looked back, the tree was still there, but there were fewer people in its shade; most had moved on.

Leon did not close his books, but now he would put the question first, the answer later.

Lesson

Wisdom is not in collecting answers, but in accepting the question. Saying “I do not know” is the first step to knowledge.

References

Greek Allegories and Philosophical Stories (Public Domain)

Oral Tradition of Trees and Questions

Classical Moral Literature: Sacred Ignorance