نمی توانی همه را راضی نگه داری

Chapter 6

You Can’t Please Everyone

Stories about Nasreddin, a teacher and philosopher from the 1200s, are popular in many countries. These stories make us laugh and also teach us a lesson about people.

One day, Nasreddin wanted to take his young son into town.

“You can ride the donkey,” he told his son, “and I’ll walk next to you.” So Nasreddin’s son got on the donkey, and they started down the road into town.

A little while later, Nasreddin and his son came across’ some people on the road. The people looked at the boy on the donkey with disapproval? One person said, “Look at that healthy young boy! Can you believe today’s young people? They have no respect?’ for their parents. That boy rides on the donkey, and his poor father has to walk.”

When the boy heard this, he was very unhappy. He asked his father to ride the donkey instead of him. So Nasreddin got on the donkey, and the boy walked next to him. Soon they met another group of people on the road. One person said, “Well, look at that! That poor boy has to walk while his father rides the donkey.”

After the people walked away, Nasreddin told his son to get on the donkey with him. “No one can criticize us now,” he said.

But soon they met two old men on the road. The men looked at Nasreddin and his son with disapproval. “That poor donkey looks very tired,” one of the men said.

Nasreddin stopped the donkey and got off. Then he said to his son, “The best thing is for both of us to walk. Then no one can criticize us.” So Nasreddin and his son walked down the road, and the donkey walked behind them. Soon they met some more people on the road. One person said, “Just look at those fools.

Both of them are walking in this hot weather, and no one is riding the donkey. How stupid they are!” Nasreddin looked at his son and said, “You can’t please everyone.”