Riddles are best if you puzzle them out in your head, so no cheating! Google begone.
It's better than God and worse than the devil; the poor have it, and the rich need it; yet if you eat it, you'll die.
What is it?
This was put to us at the "Picnic in the Park" last night by a nimble-minded nine-year-old named Anya. (I hope I'm spelling that right.) Her soon-to-be-stepdad Alex was the only adult who got it.
Please, no spoilers in the Comments. I'll pass along the answer tomorrow morning.
Mike
(Thanks to Anya)
UPDATE the next morning: The answer is "nothing." Good one, eh? :-)
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
anthony reczek: "Ha ha! For the past twenty four hours, this 'nimble minded nine-year old' in upstate NY was wreaking havoc in households across five continents. Glad I only saw this earlier today...."
mishka: "Spent a lot of time thinking but nothing comes to mind."
Your "Tongue"
Posted by: Terry Gallant | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 11:09 AM
And a vacuum has plenty of it.
Posted by: Bill Tyler | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 12:13 PM
I hear that John Cage is big with nine year olds.
Posted by: hugh crawford | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 02:56 PM
I would guess that those who hold God as the ultimate might stumble on the answer more readily.
Posted by: Jeff | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 06:08 PM
I've been thinking about this for awhile, and I've got nuthin'.
Posted by: Ernie Van Veen | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 06:36 PM
Kale
Posted by: Peter Gilbert | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 07:24 PM
Nothing! It used to be said that schoolkids got this when grad students didn't. Or thereabouts.
Posted by: HVJ | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 09:41 PM
Another version—
What is it that the poor have, the rich require,
The wise man needs, the spendthrift saves,
And all men carry to their graves?
Posted by: BJ | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 09:58 PM
Repeating it over and over 4 times in my head, it took me about 45 seconds to figure it out.
I'm pretty sure I'm right. When it does hit you, you'll wonder how anyone could not get it.
Posted by: Peggy C | Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 10:13 PM
Yup! That was great!!
Posted by: Fred Haynes | Sunday, 14 July 2019 at 11:46 AM
I knew the answer. I could have commented earlier, but I had nothing to say.
: )
Posted by: Roger Bradbury | Sunday, 14 July 2019 at 03:52 PM
Mentioned it to family, and my ten year old granddaughter finished the question, before providing the answer. We went “yeah, how smart is that”. She calls me “camera boy”, I call her “boss”. The best thing about growing old - we are blessed with smart, sassy, moody, funny, smiling, grouchy, sweet, nasty, obedient, spiteful, loving, cold, hugging, grandchildren. Getting down to their level and really listening to them is the reward age earned. I wish this for all our boomer friends - you can learn a lot from the little people just starting their journeys.
Cheers!
Gabe
Posted by: Gabe | Tuesday, 16 July 2019 at 01:12 AM