Oliver Wendell Holmes, the eminent Supreme Court justice, was on a train reading his paper when the conductor came by punching tickets. The justice searched his coat pockets for his ticket. Then he searched his vest pockets. Each time he came up empty.

Finally the conductor, recognizing him, said, “Mr. Justice Holmes, don’t worry. I’m sure the great Pennsylvania Railroad won’t mind if you send your ticket to us when you find it.”

With this the distinguished jurist looked up at the conductor and said, “My dear young man — the problem is not where is my ticket? The problem is — where am I going?”