A Counsel for all Circumstances

Long ago a king plagued by many worries harassed on every side, calles his wise men together. He asked them to invent a motto, a few magic words that would help him in time of trial or distress. It must be brief enough to be engraved on a ring, he said, so that he could have it always before his eyes. It must be appropriate to every situation, as useful in prosperity as in adversity. It must be a motto wise and true and endlessly enduring. Words by which a man could be guided all his life, in every circumstance, no matter what happened.

The wise men thought and thought, and finally came to the king with their magic words. They were words for every change or chance of fortune, declared the wise men... words to fit every situation, good or bad... words to ease the heart and mind in every circumstance. And the words they gave the king to engrave on his ring were:

"This, too, shall pass away."

Author Unknown