Chanakya (the author of Arthashastra and the guru of Chandragupta Maurya) preferred to live in a cottage rather than in the palace at Pataliputra. One day someone from the Greek Embassy expressed his wish to meet Chanakya. And he was escorted towards a cottage.
The surprised man commented, "Is this where the Chief minister lives."
"yes," said the escort.
A lamp was burning in a corner and in the light of the lamp, Chanakya was examining some documents. He put out the lamp and lighted another and asked the visitor, "welcome. what can i do for you?"
The Greek asked, "will you kindly explain why you put out that lamp and lit another?"
"I was doing work pertaining to the state. That oil is bought from the state funds. Now this is a personal interview. The oil in this lamp is bought from my money."
(Partha)
