The Golden Palace and the Wheel of Greed

Vahid Chaychi

2 years ago

In my previous article, I talked about greed and how it led even the brilliant scientist Isaac Newton to lose all his savings. In that article, I had planned to share another story, but I chose not to include it to keep the article concise. Today, I am sharing that story—a myth that, while not real, delivers a powerful lesson. It reveals how greed can trap you, even when you already have enough to live a happy life. Read it carefully, and let’s discuss it in the comments below:

The Golden Palace and the Wheel of Greed

Once upon a time, a poor man wandered the land in search of fortune. One day, he encountered a mysterious sorcerer who asked, “What is it that you desire most?”

The man replied without hesitation, “I am poor. I want wealth—enough to live happily for the rest of my life.”

The sorcerer handed him an ancient, weathered map and said, “Follow this map. It will lead you to a tree where ten gold coins are buried. That will be your first reward. Then, the map will guide you to a house where you will find one hundred more. With 110 gold coins, you will have more than enough to live in comfort and peace.”

But then the sorcerer’s voice grew heavy. He pointed to a third destination marked on the map.

“There is a final place, a palace filled with unimaginable wealth. But, do not go there. You won’t need it.”

The man took the map, thanked the sorcerer, and began his journey.

The Path to Greed

As the map foretold, he found ten gold coins beneath an old tree. Soon after, he discovered the house filled with one hundred more. He now had 110 gold coins—more than he had ever dreamed.

But as he stared at the last mark on the map, temptation gripped his heart. “If ten coins led to one hundred, then the wealth beyond must be beyond imagination. Why should I stop now?”

Ignoring the sorcerer’s warning, he followed the map to the third destination.

At the end of a long and treacherous path, he found a magnificent golden palace, glittering in the sunlight like a vision from the heavens. His breath caught in his throat. It was real.

The Eternal Trap

Stepping inside, he found an enormous hall of gold and jewels. In the center of the palace stood an old man, frail and weary, turning a massive, heavy wheel. The man frowned.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

The old man wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed. “Come, help me turn this wheel for a moment, and I will explain everything to you.”

Curious but unaware of what was to come, the man placed his hands on the wheel. The moment he started pushing, he felt its crushing weight. But before he could protest, the old man suddenly stepped away, stretching his arms in relief. A grin spread across his face.

“I have good news and bad news for you,” the old man said, taking a deep breath. “The good news is, all the wealth in this palace now belongs to you.”

The man’s eyes widened. “And the bad news?”

The old man’s expression darkened. “The bad news is that this wheel must never stop turning. If it does, the palace ceiling will collapse, crushing you beneath it. The only way to escape is to do what I just did—trick another greedy soul into taking your place. Until that day comes, you are trapped here, bound to the wheel.”

The man’s blood ran cold. His arms already ached from the wheel’s relentless weight. Panic set in. “Wait! How do you know all this?”

The old man’s smile turned bitter as he walked toward the palace doors.

“Because I was once like you. I had 110 gold coins. I was warned not to come here, but I ignored the warning—just as you did. When I arrived, there was another man at this wheel. He told me the same story I am telling you now. And just as I took his place… you have taken mine today.”

The man’s breath quickened. “No… no, there must be a way out!”

But the old man was already at the palace doors. Just before stepping outside, he turned back one last time and said:

“Keep turning the wheel, my friend. And pray that another greedy fool finds his way here soon.”

With that, he left, vanishing into the golden horizon.

The palace doors slammed shut.

The man screamed, but there was no one to hear him.

So, he did the only thing he could do.

He turned the wheel.

And waited.

The end…

Greed and Financial Freedom

Achieving financial freedom is the central focus of this site. I have written about it extensively because I believe it is a great and noble goal—one that everyone should pursue, while also helping others achieve the same.

However, after discussing greed in my last two articles, an important question arises: Isn’t striving for financial freedom the same as chasing greed? Don’t you have to be greedy to achieve financial freedom?

The answer is no. Not only is achieving financial freedom not the same as following greed, but in fact, you cannot achieve financial freedom unless you learn to recognize and control your greed.

Those who blindly chase greed always lose. They take unreasonable risks, fall for scams, and get lured in by shiny objects and schemes that promise massive profits in a short time. In contrast, achieving financial freedom—as I have outlined on this site—requires patience, consistency, and discipline. It means being content with small but steady financial growth over the long term rather than seeking quick, unrealistic riches.

A financially free person may not be extremely rich, but they have enough passive income not only to cover their expenses but also to save and reinvest in new sources of passive income. They pass this knowledge on to future generations, ensuring long-term financial security.

Greed, however, makes financial freedom impossible. To build passive income streams, you must be patient—willing to save small amounts consistently until you have enough to start your first passive income project (as I have explained here and here). This could be buying a small apartment to rent out, for example. But a greedy person cannot save money for long. Sooner or later, they lose their savings—just like Isaac Newton did and just like the man in the story above.

He had enough with 110 gold coins to live a comfortable and happy life. But instead of stopping there, he followed his greed and walked straight into a trap.

What do you think? Have you ever found yourself in trouble because you didn’t recognize or control your greed? Do you believe you have the patience to save money until you can start your first financial freedom project—then build the second, and so on—until your passive income sustains your financial freedom?

What are your thoughts on the man in the story and his choices? If you were in his place, would you have gone after the third point on the map after already having 110 gold coins?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and answer the questions above for a chance to win a nice prize!

See?! I’m making you greedy just to get you to comment! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

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We achieve our goals not immediately, but steadily and surely! 🌟🚀💖