Vanity came to the wise man and said:
-Let's be friends! I’ll do whatever you want for you then!
- And what will you do for me? — the wise man asked, taking his time to answer.
— I’ll help you become a candidate of science!
- And then?
- Then - a doctor!
- Let's say. And then?
- Then you will become a professor, academician! Everyone will praise you, call you great...
- And then?
- Like what, you’ll grow old!
-And then? Well, my fame will live after me for ten years. But in a hundred years, hardly anyone will remember my name! And in a thousand years? In a million? So what can you give me?
Vanity looked at the wise man, sighed... and went to look for someone who would make friends with him, without thinking about it!