a philosopher went to a closet for ten years to contemplate the question:

what is life?

when he came out, he went in to the street & meet the old colleague, who asked him where in heaven's name he has been all these years.

- in a closet - he replied - i wanted to know what life really is.

- &? have you find an answer?

- yes - he replied - i think it can beest be expressed by saying that life is like a bridge.

- that's all well & good - replied a colleague - but can you be a little more explicit? can you tell me how life is like a bridge?

- oh - replied a philosopher after some thought - maybe you're right, perhaps life is not like a bridge?