In 1972 Thomas William Phelps published a great book, “100 to 1 in the Stock Market“. In essence its a book about building wealth through a buy-and-hold investment strategy. It opens with the story below.

Five poor Arabs slept on the sand. A bright light woke them Out of it came an angel.

“Each of you can have one wish,” the angel said. “Praise be to Allah,” exulted the first Arab to catch his breath. “Give me a donkey.” Instantly a donkey stood at his side.

“Fool,” thought the second Arab. “He should have asked for more.” “Give me ten donkeys,” the second Arab begged. No sooner said than done. He had ten donkeys.

The third Arab had heard and seen how the first two had fared. “To Allah all things are possible,” he said. “Give me a caravan with a hundred camels, a hundred donkeys, tents, rugs, food, wine, and servants.” They came so fast that the third Arab was ashamed to be seen in his rags before such an entourage. But his shame did not last long. Deftly his servants dressed him in robes befitting his new status.

The fourth Arab was more than ready when his turn came. “Make me a king,” he commanded. So quickly did the crown appear on his head that he bruised his knuckles scratching where an instant before there had been nothing but an itch. The palace gardens stretched out before him almost as far as the eye could see, and the palace turrets reached so high their pennants were lost in the desert haze.

Having seen his companions in misery ask too little, the fifth Arab resolved to make no such mistake. “Make me Allah!” he ordered. In a flash he found himself naked on the sand, covered with leprous sores.

The moral, of course, is that those of us who ask little of life get little. Those who ask much get much. Those who ask too much get nothing. Seems more relevant than ever before in these times of extreme greed and fear.

Until next time 🙏

Regards,

Roshan