Here’s a famous story from ancient Rome that has haunted me ever since I read a passing reference to it in the fascinating book Religions of Rome (Amazon, Bookshop), volume one, by Mary Beard, John North, and Simon Price.

I’m surprised by how often, in everyday life, I find myself reflecting on it, or recounting the story during a conversation.

The legendary story is about the origins of the Sibylline Books, a set of Roman state oracles.

Here’s my version of the ancient story.

Long ago, an old woman approached King Tarquin and offered to sell him nine prophetic books for an enormous sum. The King refused her high price, and in response, she burned three of the books. Then she offered to sell him the remaining six—for the same price she’d asked for all nine. Again he refused, so she burned three more books. Finally, she offered him the last three books at the same price, and this time, the king agreed to buy them.

For a long time, I wasn’t exactly sure of the significance of the story.

But over time, I’ve come to understand its lesson. Only when two-thirds of the books had been reduced to ash did the King understand the true worth of those volumes.

Often, we fail to recognize the value of what is before us until it has already been diminished, damaged, or lost