Half a Life Is Better than None

Once, when young Nasruddin was a young ferryman — which was another thing he did for work — he had a customer, a famously brilliant pedagogue. The scholar requested to be taken across Akşehir River, which was very wide in those days.

As soon as the raft was in the fast-running river, the weather turned bad. The scholar asked Nasruddin if he thought the trip was going to be rough.

Mullah Nasruddin

“Don’t ask me nothing about it,” replied Nasruddin, as he tried to steer the raft, which as it turned out was leaking.

“Have you never studied grammar, you dolt?” insulted the pedant.

“No,” said Nasruddin.

“In that case, boy, half your entire life has been wasted.”

Nasruddin said nothing. Halfway across the river, a fierce storm blew up and the water turned choppy. The tiny raft was taking on water and was sinking quickly. Nasruddin dropped the pole, removed his shoes and tucked them in his belt, and said, “Haven’t you never learned how to swim, sir?”

“No, you fool — I cannot swim a stroke — and you should never use a double negative.”

“In that case, esteemed sir, all your life has been wasted,” said Nasruddin as he prepared to dive overboard. “However, in your remaining time, feel free to use as many — or as few — negatives as you wish.”

Your Daily Nasruddin

Sink, or swim.

Mullah Nasruddin Books by Ron J. Suresha

Half a Life Is Better than None

Half a Life Is Better than None

Your Daily Nasruddin