The Three Sluggards

Once upon a time, a king had three sons, and he loved them all equally. He didn't know which one should become king after he died. When he was about to die, he called them to his bedside and said, "Dear children, I have thought of something: whichever of you is the laziest shall have the kingdom."

The eldest said, "Then, Father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so lazy that if I lie down to rest and a drop of water falls in my eye, I won't open it just to sleep."

The second said, "Father, the kingdom belongs to me, for I am so lazy that when I sit by the fire warming myself, I would rather let my heel get burnt than pull my leg back."

The third said, "Father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so lazy that if I were about to be hanged and had the rope around my neck, and someone put a sharp knife in my hand to cut the rope, I would rather let myself be hanged than raise my hand to cut it."

When the father heard that, he said, "You have gone the farthest. You shall be king."