A man decides he wants a quieter, more peaceful life, so he joins a monastery. The monks there live very simply, and one of their most serious traditions is a vow of silence.
However, there is one small exception. Every monk is allowed to speak two words every seven years. That’s it—no conversations, no chatting, just two words once every seven years.
The new monk agrees to the rule and begins his silent life.
Seven years pass.
At the end of the seven years, the elders bring him into a room and tell him it’s time for his two words. The monk thinks carefully, then says:
“Cold floors.”
The elders nod politely. They write it down, thank him, and send him back to his silent routine.
Another seven years pass.
Once again, the elders call him in and remind him he can say his two words. The monk sighs and says:
“Bad food.”
Again, the elders nod calmly, make a note of it, and send him back.
Seven more years pass.
By now, the monk has spent twenty-one years living quietly in the monastery. The elders bring him in for the third time and ask for his two words.
Without hesitation, the monk says:
“I quit.”
The elders look at each other and shrug.
“Well,” one of them says, “that’s not surprising.”
The monk looks confused.
The elder continues, “You’ve done nothing but complain ever since you got here.”
Even with only two words every seven years, the monk still managed to complain every single time.
A monk can speak only two words every seven years: “Cold floors.” “Bad food.” After 21 years he says, “I quit.” The elders reply, “Not surprising—you’ve been complaining the whole time.” 😄
