In Ancient Rome, a group of prophetesses known as the Sibyls wrote nine books that foretold the future of the Roman Empire. They brought the books to Tiberius and asked for one hundred pieces of gold for them.
Tiberius angrily drove them away. The Sibyls burned three of the books and returned to Tiberius, asking again for one hundred pieces of gold for the remaining six books.
He laughed and refused again: why should he pay the price of nine books for only six?
The Sibyls burned three more and returned with the last three that remained.
‘The price is still one hundred pieces of gold,’ they told him.
Tiberius, seized by curiosity, paid the price, but was then able to read only part of the future of his empire.
The teacher said: ‘It is very important in life not to bargain when there is an opportunity for it.’”*
Note: This is a parable based on the legend of the Sibylline Books.
