The Law of Service

In Herman Hess’s novel Journey To The East, the character Leo defines the Law of Service as, “He who wishes to live long must serve, but he who wishes to rule does not live long.”

In response, the character H.H. asks, “Then why do so many strive to rule?”

Leo replies, “Because they do not understand. There are few who are born to be masters; they remain happy and healthy. But all the others who have only become masters through endeavor, end in nothing.”

It seems that this rule is about finding meaning in life, which is really what happiness and healthiness are all about. True meaning comes from a life of service, not from a life of control or domination. Striving to rule is indeed, a source of much strife in the world today.