Missive #550 Published 22 August 2025

Nasruddin’s neighbor asked to borrow his donkey.

“Let me go ask the donkey,” he said.

A few moments later, Nasruddin returned.

“My deepest apologies,” he said to his neighbor, “but the donkey refuses. He explained his reasoning like this: if I make him work for you, you are likely to beat him, and if you beat him, he will bite you, and after he bites you, you will curse me. So really, it’s better for all of us if I do not loan you the donkey.”

Missive #547 Published 15 August 2025

100. Nasruddin’s Clothesline

A neighbor asked to borrow Nasruddin’s clothesline.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” said Nasruddin. He tried to sound apologetic, but he really didn’t want to loan anything to anyone. “I’m using the clothesline right now.”

“But I didn’t see any clothes drying outside. What are you using it for?”

“I’m using it to dry flour,” Nasruddin explained. “I spilled some water and the flour got wet. The flour is still drying.”

“You can’t use a clothesline for drying flour!” exclaimed the neighbor. “That’s impossible!”

“It’s completely possible,” Nasruddin replied calmly, “when your purpose is to avoid loaning out your clothesline.”

Missive #544 Published 8 August 2025

99. Nasruddin Thinks of Soup

Nasruddin was hungry, but he had nothing to eat in the house. He sat in the kitchen, dreaming of soup. A nice noodle soup with beans and lentils, some onion and spinach, seasoned with some turmeric, yogurt on the side…

Then, as Nasruddin was thinking about that soup, he heard a knock at the door. It was his neighbor’s young son.

“Please, Nasruddin,” said the boy, “if you have cooked a pot of soup here, may we please have some?”

The boy then held out an empty bowl.

“Incredible!” Nasruddin exclaimed. “The neighbors can smell even the thought of soup.”