Nasruddin

Nasruddin used to stand in the street on market-days, to be pointed
out as an idiot. No matter how often people offered hima large and a
small coin, he always chose the smaller piece. One day a kindly man
said to him:
- Nasruddin, you should take the bigger coin. Then you will have more
money and people will no longer be able to make a laughing stock
ofyou.
- That may be true, said Nasruddin, but if I always take the larger,
people will stop offering me money to prove that I am more idiotic
than they are. Then I would have no money at all.
As Nasruddin emerged form the mosque after prayers, a beggar sitting
on the street solicited alms. The following conversation followed:
- Are you extravagant? asked Nasruddin.
- Yes Nasruddin. replied the beggar.
- Do you like sitting around drinking coffee and smoking? asked Nasruddin.
- Yes. replied the beggar.
- I suppose you like to goto the baths everyday? asked Nasruddin.
- Yes. replied the beggar.
- ... And maybe amuse yourself, even, by drinking with friends? asked Nasruddin.
- Yes I like all those things. replied the beggar.
- Tut, Tut, said Nasruddin, and gave hima gold piece.
A few yards farther on. another beggar who hadoverheard the
conversation begged for alms also.
- Are you extravagant? asked Nasruddin.
- No, Nasruddin replied second beggar.
- Do you like sitting around drinking coffee and smoking? asked Nasruddin.
- No. replied second beggar.
- I suppose you like to goto the baths everyday? asked Nasruddin.
- No. replied second beggar.
- ... And maybe amuse yourself, even, by drinking with friends? asked Nasruddin.
- No, I want to only live meagerly and to pray. replied second beggar.
Whereupon the Nasruddin gave him a small copper coin.
- But why, wailed secondbeggar, do you give me, an economical and pious
man, a penny, when you give that extravagant fellow a sovereign?
Ah my friend, replied Nasruddin, his needs are greater than yours.
One day Nasruddin went to a banquet. As he was dressed rather
shabbily, no one let him in. So he ran home, put on his best robe and
fur coat and returned. Immediately, the host came over, greeted him
and ushered him to the head of an elaborate banquet table. When the
food was served, Nasruddin took some soup with spoon and pushed it to
the his fur coat and said, - Eat my fur coat, eat! It's obvious that
you're the real guest of honor today, not me!