Nasruddin

Missive #582 Published 24 October 2025

110. Nasruddin and the Wool

Nasruddin owed his neighbor money. “But don’t worry,” Nasruddin said. “I’ve got a plan!”
His neighbor looked doubtful. “Do tell!” he said.
“I planted some bramble bushes outside; you probably saw them. And you know how the shepherds drive their flocks down the road on their way to the pasture…? The wool from those passing sheep will get caught on the brambles. I’m going to harvest that wool, sell it, and that’s how I will pay you back.”
Nasruddin’s neighbor burst out laughing. “I don’t think you’ll ever pay me back,” he said, “but at least you keep me entertained!”

Missive #579 Published 17 October 2025

109. Nasruddin’s House with Many Windows

Nasruddin had built a new house, and there were many windows, big and small, in every wall.
“I’ve never seen a house with so many windows!” said Nasruddin’s neighbor.
“That’s my own design,” Nasruddin explained. “This new house has twenty windows! My old house had just one.”
“Why so many?” asked the neighbor.
“To stay warm in winter!” replied Nasruddin. “My old house became much warmer when I closed my window in the winter. Now when winter comes, I have twenty windows to close, so the house will be twenty times warmer. I won’t even need to light a fire!”

Missive #575 Published 10 October 2025

108. The Warmth of a Candle

Nasruddin made a bet with his neighbor. “I’ll stand in the snow with only a blanket for warmth. If I last all night, you feed me; otherwise, I feed you.”
Nasruddin stood all night in the snow. “I won!” he shouted.
“No!” his neighbor protested. “You used the candle burning in my window for warmth. I’ll come over tonight to eat that dinner.”
When the neighbor arrived, Nasruddin explained the soup wasn’t ready.
The neighbor waited.
And waited.
Finally, he went into the kitchen and saw a pot suspended over a candle.
“Imagine that!” said Nasruddin. “The soup’s still cold.”

Missive #568 Published 26 September 2025

106. Nasruddin the Architect

“Our house is so crowded,” Nasruddin’s neighbor complained. “We can’t stand it anymore.”
“I can help,” Nasruddin said. “Will you obey my advice exactly?”
His neighbor nodded.
“Bring your goats, chickens, and donkey into the house.”
A week later, the neighbor told Nasruddin, “That just made things worse!”
“I know,” said Nasruddin. “But now, send the donkey outside.”
“That’s better,” said the neighbor a week later.
“Now send the chickens back out.”
“That’s much better,” the neighbor said next time.
“Now the goats.”
Nasruddin’s neighbor came back smiling. “Thank you, Nasruddin!” he said. “Our house is so much bigger now!”

Missive #565 Published 19 September 2025

105. Nasruddin and the Bears

A rich man had invited Nasruddin to go with him on a bear hunt. Reluctantly, Nasruddin accepted the invitation.
A few days later, he returned from the hunt beaming with happiness.
“How did it go?” his neighbor asked him.
“It was wonderful!” Nasruddin replied with a smile.
“How many bears did you kill?”
“None!”
“How many bears did you chase?”
“None!”
“How many bears did you see?”
“None!” said Nasruddin happily.
His neighbor stared at him in confusion. “That is why it was wonderful!” Nasruddin explained. “I don’t mind hunting bears if there are not any bears to be found.”

Missive #562 Published 12 September 2025

104. Nasruddin and the Sesame Seeds

As one of Nasruddin’s neighbors walked by, he noticed that Nasruddin was throwing sesame seeds onto the ground. There were sesame seeds everywhere!

“What on earth are you doing?” the neighbor asked.

“I’m scattering sesame seeds,” Nasruddin replied calmly.

“I can see that!” said his neighbor. “But I don’t understand why you’re scattering sesame seeds.”

“To keep the tigers away,” said Nasruddin. “I highly recommend you give it a try too!”

“I still don’t understand,” his neighbor replied. “There aren’t any tigers anywhere near here.”

“I know!” Nasruddin exclaimed. “Isn’t it wonderful? The sesame seeds are working just as expected.”

Missive #554 Published 29 August 2025

102. Nasruddin and the Neighbor’s Dog

The neighbor’s dog bit Nasruddin. After bandaging the wound, Nasruddin went next door to the neighbor to complain.

“That vicious dog of yours just bit me!” Nasruddin shouted.

“I’m very sorry to hear that,” said the neighbor. “He’s really a very nice dog. Let me go in the kitchen and get some bread. Then you can feed him the bread yourself, and he’ll be your friend forever.”

“That’s a terrible idea!” said Nasruddin. “If I do that, your dog will tell all the other dogs in town, and then all those dogs will come here trying to bite me too.”

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.”