Why do human beings enjoy a greater longevity than most animals? While scientific reasoning can provide objective insights, a far more interesting answer lies in “The Duration of Life”, a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.

In this story, after creating the universe, God gave a lifespan of 30 years to every creature. But this did not sit well with some of them, which complained that such a lengthy existence would be unbearable. Weary from the relentless toil of heavy burdens day and night, the donkey was the first to make a plea to God, arguing that 30 years of such drudgery would be misery. Then came the dog, lamenting that its feet and teeth would never hold out that long. The monkey joined the chorus of grievance, expressing its disdain for the prospect of spending decades making silly faces to entertain others and getting pranked by kids. In response to their collective pleas, God relieved the donkey, the dog and the monkey of 18, 12 and 10 years respectively.

Healthy and happy, man approached God with a different request: a longer life to enjoy. God graciously gave him the 40 years taken from the three animals but declined to bestow more.

As a result, man has to make do with a lifespan of 70 years. The first thirty are his human years, a period of promise and vitality. Then come his donkey years, during which man finds himself laden with increasingly onerous burdens. Next are the dog years when man struggles with waning stamina, unable to walk briskly or chew his food with ease. The monkey years arrive finally, a time when sharp wit fades, leaving man prone to silly acts and ridicule.

For the three animals, time seems to unfold at a painfully slow pace, drawing their focus to the unpleasant things in life. Would it be better and brighter if dark times passed more quickly? This intriguing perspective is interestingly explored in “The Magic Thread”, a French folktale in The Book of Virtues edited by William John Bennett.

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Peter who could not prevent himself from daydreaming at school. One day, while lost in thought, he received a silver ball from a mysterious old woman, who pointed at a golden silk thread dangling from the ball. “This,” she explained, “is your life thread. If you wish for time to pass more quickly, simply pull it gently and an hour will pass like a second.”

At first, Peter employed the trick only for trivial matters, such as skipping a lesson that felt interminable. Mesmerised by its magic power, he grew increasingly impatient, yearning to fast-forward not just hours, but days, months and even years, always hankering after the next best thing. Bored with school, he pulled the thread to start working full-time. Having to wait for a year before getting married, he accelerated the passage of time towards his wedding day.

Tugging at the golden thread now and then, Peter found himself reaching middle age. Only when his mother died of old age did Peter realise how rapidly time had slipped through his fingers. Adamant not to pull the magic thread so easily again, he wavered when struggling to keep his family afloat. He often thought how nice it would be if his children were already grown-up. In a moment of desperation, he pulled the thread hard, instantly turning himself into an old man.

Time flew, but Peter’s life did not get better. His wife was often ill, and the sight of her suffering was unbearable. He pulled the magic thread again and again, until it lost all its lustre. Realising that one more gentle pull would kill her, he decided to take a walk to get his head straight. Much to his bewilderment, he ran into the very old lady who had handed him the magic thread. She asked, “So, have you led a good life?”

“I’ve had no time to process what has happened,” sighed Peter. “I wish I could relive my life without your gift.” Mired in melancholy, he returned the magic ball to her and closed his eyes.

“Wake up, Peter! You’ll be late for school!”

Awakened by his mother’s call, Peter was over the moon to find himself lying in bed, still in his youth. Was this a second chance at life, or just a nightmare? Regardless, it mattered little to him now, and he could hardly contain his excitement to head off to school.

Alice Meynell, a British poet, once remarked on the passage of time: “If life is not always poetical, it is at least metrical.” Without the contrast of difficult times, one cannot appreciate the joy of good days. It may not be common for people today to ponder the beauty and rhythm of life, but it is never too late to draw inspiration from tales as old as time.