Nasruddin

Missive #496 Published 16 May 2025

87. Nasruddin and the Tall Tree

The village boys wanted to trick Nasruddin and steal his new shoes. “Look at this tall tree!” they shouted. “We’re too small to climb it, but maybe you can.”

Nasruddin looked at the tree, smiled and said, “That would be fun. I’ll try!”

So, Nasruddin took off his new shoes. Next, he tucked the shoes inside his belt. Then he began climbing.

“Wait!” shouted the boys. “Why are you taking your shoes with you?”

“This tree is so tall that it might lead all the way to heaven,” Nasruddin replied, “and I’ll need my shoes to walk around up there.”

Missive #493 Published 9 May 2025

86. Nasruddin Gets a Haircut

Nasruddin and a little boy walked into a barbershop together. “Do me first, and then the boy here,” Nasruddin said.

The barber gave Nasruddin a haircut and as he was giving the boy a haircut, Nasruddin strolled out of the shop.

When he had finished, the barber waited for Nasruddin to come back and pay.

Finally he asked the boy, “When do you think your father will be back?”

“Oh, that’s not my father,” said the boy. “He just picked me up off the street out there and said, ‘Let’s go get us some free haircuts’ … and so we did!”

Missive #489 Published 2 May 2025

85. Nasruddin Rewards His Son

Nasruddin’s son received a good report from his teacher at school.

“Son, I’m proud of you,” said Nasruddin. “You may make a request of me, and I will grant it.”

The son was taken aback by this generous offer. “May I have a day to think about it?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Nasruddin.

The boy came back the next day and said, “Father, I want a donkey.”

“Well, that would be two requests now, wouldn’t it? I already granted your request for a day to think things over.”

Nasruddin’s son was disappointed, but not surprised: he should have known better!

Missive #486 Published 25 April 2025

84. Nasruddin and the Philosopher’s Questions

A renowned philosopher traveled to Nasruddin’s town to challenge him in a contest of wisdom. Everyone gathered to see the show, hoping that Nasruddin would uphold the honor of their town.

To begin the contest, the challenger asked if Nasruddin wanted to answer one hundred easy questions or just one hard question.

“I’ll take the one hard question,” Nasruddin said.

“Which came first: the chicken or the egg?”

“The chicken,” replied Nasruddin confidently.

The philosopher was surprised by Nasruddin’s answer. “How can you be so sure?”

“Ah,” said Nasruddin, “that is your second question. I agreed to answer only one.”

Missive #481 Published 18 April 2025

83. Nasruddin Eating Eggs

Nasruddin was sitting in a chair outside, eating eggs for dinner. He didn’t usually eat dinner outside, and eggs were not his usual dinner, but so it was: Nasruddin was sitting in a chair outside, eating eggs for dinner.

One of Nasruddin’s neighbors happened to walk by, and he just couldn’t keep quiet. “Hey there, Nasruddin,” he said, “why are you sitting in your chair eating eggs like that?”

Nasruddin looked up and replied, “Would it be better if I sat in the eggs and ate the chair?”

The best way to answer a foolish question is with another question.

Missive #474 Published 4 April 2025

81. Nasruddin on the Roof

A man down on the ground was shouting to Nasruddin up on the roof. “Please, sir, come here!”

Nasruddin climbed down and asked the man what he wanted.

“I need money,” the man explained.

“Why didn’t you just say so?” said Nasruddin. “Instead, you made me climb down.”

“I was embarrassed to shout it out loud,” the man explained.

Nasruddin told the man to come up on the roof. Then, once they were both up on the roof, Nasruddin told the man he had nothing to give him.

“Why didn’t you just say so?” the man asked.

Nasruddin just smiled.

Missive #469 Published 28 March 2025

80. A Token of Friendship

Nasruddin had a friend he’d known for a long time.

“You’re quite the trickster,” Nasruddin’s friend said, “but I’ve seen all your tricks. You can fool everybody else, but you can’t fool me.”

Nasruddin scratched his head thoughtfully and then he said, “Wait here! I think I know a way to fool you. I’ll be right back!”

“Okay,” the man agreed. “You can try if you want, but I’m going to be on my guard!”

The man stood there and waited.

And waited.

And as he was waiting, he realized … Nasruddin wasn’t coming back.

Nasruddin had fooled him after all.

Missive #465 Published 21 March 2025

79. A Token of Friendship

One of Nasruddin’s dearest friends was moving away to a distant city.

“I’ll miss you,” said Nasruddin’s friend.

“I’ll miss you too,” Nasruddin replied.

“Hey, I’ve got an idea!” said his friend. “Why don’t you give me that gold ring of yours as a memento? Then, whenever I look at that ring on my finger, I’ll remember that you gave it to me.”

Nasruddin thought for a moment.

“I’ve got a better idea,” he said. “I won’t give you my gold ring, and that way whenever you look at your finger, you’ll remember that I didn’t give it to you.”

#461 Published 14 March 2025

78. Jokes in the Coffeehouse

Nasruddin and his friends were sitting in the coffeehouse, and one of them decided to tell a joke. It was a very long joke, and the man told the joke very badly.

Everyone squirmed in their seats as they listened to his performance.

Finally, the joker reached the punchline, which he bungled.

No one laughed… except Nasruddin.

Later, one of Nasruddin’s friends asked him, “Why did you laugh at that joke? It wasn’t funny at all.”

“You should always laugh at the joke,” Nasruddin told him. “If you don’t, there’s a possibility that they might try to tell it again.”