To make the people stop talking
One day, Hodja and his son went on a journey once. Hodja preferred to let his son ride the donkey while he walked. Along the way, they passed some people who said:
- Look at that healthy young boy on the donkey! That's today's youth for you! They have no respect for their elders! He rides while his poor father walks!
The words made the boy feel very ashamed, and he insisted that his father ride while he walked. So Hodja climbed on the donkey and the boy walked by his side. Soon they met another group.
- Well, look at that! Poor little boy has to walk while his father rides the donkey, they exclaimed.
This time, Hodja climbed onto the donkey behind his son. Soon they met another group, who said,
- Look at that poor donkey! He has to carry the weight of two people.
Hodja then told his son,
- The best thing is for both of us to walk. Then no one can complain.
So they continued their journey on foot. Again they met some others who said:
- Just take a look at those fools. Both of them are walking under this hot sun and neither of them is riding the donkey!
In exasperation, Hodja lifted the donkey onto his shoulders and said,
- Come on, if we don't do this, it will be impossible to make people stop talking.
:: Nasreddin Hodja ::
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