One day Khoja Nasreddin went to the bazaar and walked back and forth along the stalls for a long time, asking the price, but not buying anything. The market guard watched from a distance for a while, but finally addressed him with a warning:
- Dear, I see that you have no money, you are just annoying the merchant people in vain. Give you this and that, change the style and size, weigh and cut, and the benefit to the merchant will not be a penny. If I didn’t know that you are Khoja Nasreddin, I would think that there was a thief in the market: he was waiting for the merchant to turn his back so that he could put his hand into someone else’s purse.
In response to this, the Khoja pulled out a wallet full of gold and silver coins from his pocket and silently handed it to the guard. He began to apologize. Nasreddin stopped him with a gesture, showing that he was not offended, and said:
“I usually buy here for such a small amount that it doesn’t take me long to choose a product. But today our ruler Timur invited me for a conversation, and, seeing me off to the gate, gave me this wallet. He said: “Dear Khoja, I want you to go to the market and buy something that can give you a little human pleasure.” I’ve been wandering here for four hours now, and during this time I’ve learned that little human pleasure can only be obtained for free - by choosing and asking the price. But, having paid money, you immediately lose it.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru