Nasruddin

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.”

Missive #457 Published 7 March 2025

77. The Cabbage and the Cooking-Pot

Nasruddin and his friends were sitting in the coffeehouse, boasting.

“I once grew a cucumber as long as my arm,” one man said.

“That’s nothing!” said another. “I once grew a watermelon as big as a sheep.”

“Ha!” said another. “I’ve got you both beat: I once grew a head of cabbage that was as large as an elephant.”

Then Nasruddin said, “Just yesterday I bought a cooking-pot as big as a polo field.”

“That’s ridiculous!” the men shouted at Nasruddin. “Why would anyone want a pot that big?”

“In order to cook that head of cabbage!” replied Nasruddin, smiling.

Missive #452 Published 28 February 2025

76. Donkeys and Horses

Nasruddin was riding his donkey along the road when a rich man on a fine horse rode up alongside him.

“I’ve been watching you and your donkey,” he said, “and you are a sorry-looking sight. I don’t know who looks more pathetic: you or your donkey!”

Nasruddin did not reply.

“I’m talking to you!” shouted the rich man. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

“Excuse me,” said Nasruddin apologetically. “I was just so surprised that I didn’t know what to say.”

“What do you mean you were surprised?”

Nasruddin smiled. “I’ve never actually seen a donkey riding a horse."

Missive #448 Published 21 February 2025

75. Nasruddin and the Wealthy Merchant

Nasruddin once found himself traveling in the company of a wealthy merchant.

“The more wealthy I am, the more wealthy I become,” said the merchant proudly. “Look at my fine boots and your shabby sandals, my thoroughbred horse and your broken-down donkey, my elegant garments and your threadbare cloak…”

As the merchant was speaking, robbers suddenly rode up and attacked them, stripping the merchant of his clothes and stealing his horse. Meanwhile, they ignored Nasruddin and his donkey.< br>
“Remarkable!” said Nasruddin, “The more wealthy you were, the more you had to lose, while my circumstances remain the same as before.”

Missive #444 Published 14 February 2025

74. Nasruddin and the Porter

Nasruddin needed to hire a porter to take home four large sacks of grain he had bought at the market.

Just outside the market, he found a porter with a wagon.

“Good day, sir!” said Nasruddin.

“Good day to you!” replied the porter.

“How much will you charge to take me and my purchases to my house?” Nasruddin asked.

“That will be four copper coins for you,” said the porter. “No charge for the purchases.”

Excellent!” said Nasruddin as he started heaving the sacks of grain onto the wagon. “You just take my purchases home, and I’ll follow on foot.”

Missive #441 Published 7 February 2025

73. Nasruddin and the Tailor

Nasruddin went into a tailor’s shop. “I’d like to try on a pair of trousers.”

The tailor gave him the trousers, and Nasruddin tried them on.

“They’re not quite right,” he said, giving them back to the tailor. “I’d like to try a jacket now, please.”

Nasruddin liked the jacket very much. “I’ll take it!” he said, and then he began to walk out the door.

“But wait!” shouted the tailor. “You haven’t paid!”

“I exchanged the trousers for the jacket,” Nasruddin explained.

“But you didn’t pay for the trousers!”

“Of course not!” said Nasruddin. “I didn’t want the trousers."

Missive #438 Published 31 January 2025

72. Nasruddin’s Ladder

Nasruddin was fond of fruit, and he was also fond of raiding his neighbor’s orchards.

One night he had just lowered a ladder into someone’s orchard in order to raid it, but the orchard’s owner caught him in the act.

“What are you doing with that ladder?” the man shouted at him.

“Are you talking about this ladder?” asked Nasruddin. “Well, to tell the truth, I’m just trying to sell this ladder.”

“You can’t sell a ladder here!” the man replied.

“I beg to differ,” said Nasruddin indignantly. “A ladder can be sold anywhere! Do you want to buy it?”