The meaning of life

On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door and bark at anyone who walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years." The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?" So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, make them laugh and I'll give you a twenty-year life span." The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a long time to perform, can I give you back ten like the dog did?" And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: "You must go into the field all day, suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years." The cow said: "That's a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?" And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said: "Eat, sleep, play and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years." But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you give me my twenty, the cows' forty, the monkeys' ten and the ten the dog gave back making eighty?" "Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

That is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.



And my forty years have only just started ...