The story goes that a certain court jester went too far one day and insulted his king. The king became so infuriated that he sentenced the jester to be executed.
His court prayed upon the king to have mercy for this man who had served him well for so many years.
After a time, the king relented only enough to give the jester his “choice” as to how he would like to die.
True to form, the jester replied, “If it’s all the same to you my Lord, I’d like to die of old age.”