M ullah N asruddin - Nasruddin used to stand in the street on market

Nasruddin used to stand in the street on market-days, to be pointed
out as an idiot. No matter how often people offered him a large and
asmall 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 of
you.
- That may be true, said Nasruddin , but if I alwaystake the larger,
people will stop offering me money to prove that I ammore 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 go to 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 him a 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 go to 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 second beggar, 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.