"The happiest man living I consider to be a certain poor man who lives in Athens," replied Solon.
The king was surprised at this answer, for he had made certain that Solon would name him himself; yet, for all that, the philosopher had named a perfectly obscure individual!
"Why do you say that?" asked Croesus.
"Because," replied Solon, "the man of whom I speak has worked hard all his life, has been content with little, has reared fine children, has served his city honorably, and has achieved a noble reputation."
When Croesus heard this he exclaimed:
"And do you reckon my happiness as nothing, and consider that I am not fit to be compared with the man of whom you speak?"
To this Solon replied:
"Often it befalls that a poor man is happier than a rich man. Call no man happy until he is dead."
The king dismissed Solon, for he was not pleased at his words, and had no belief in him.
"A fig for melancholy!" he thought. "While a man lives he should live for pleasure."