Nasreddin Hodja

The Donkey Debate

Nasreddin had many nice neighbors who were always happy to help each other. But there was one woman on his street who nobody liked. She always got involved in other people’s problems and borrowed things without returning them. 

One morning, Nasreddin heard a knock at his door. When he opened it, he saw the woman standing outside. "Good morning, Nasreddin," she said. "I need to take some things to my sister's house today. I don’t have a donkey. Can I use yours? I will bring it back tonight."

"I’m sorry," Nasreddin replied. "If my donkey were here, I would let you use it. But it is not here."

"Oh?" the woman said. "I saw it at your house last night. Where is it now?"

"My wife took it into town this morning," explained Nasreddin.

Just then, Nasreddin's donkey brayed loudly.

"You are not telling the truth, Nasreddin!" the woman said angrily. "I can hear your donkey. You should be ashamed of lying to your neighbor!"

Nasreddin shouted back, "You should be the one who is ashamed! Is it polite to believe a donkey’s noise instead of your neighbor’s words?”

Reading Comprehension Questions 

1. How do Nasreddin’s neighbors usually feel about each other?

2. Why don't people like the woman in the story?

3. Why did the woman come to Nasreddin's house in the morning?

4. What did Nasreddin tell the woman about his donkey?

5. How did the woman know that Nasreddin's donkey was at home?

6. What did Nasreddin say to the woman when she accused him of lying?

7. What lesson can we learn from Nasreddin’s answer to the woman?

8. What does this story show about Nasreddin’s character?

Nasreddin Hodja and the Pot

Nasreddin Hodja once borrowed a large pot from his neighbor. After a few days, he returned the pot along with a smaller pot placed inside it. The neighbor was curious and asked, "Hodja, what is this?"

Hodja replied, "Congratulations! Your pot gave birth to a smaller pot."

The neighbor, delighted with his newfound fortune, accepted both pots without question.

A week later, Hodja asked to borrow the large pot once more. The neighbor readily agreed, thinking he might receive another bonus. However, when several days passed and Hodja hadn’t returned the pot, the neighbor went to ask for it.

Hodja sighed and said, "I'm sorry, but your pot has passed away."

Confused and annoyed, the neighbor exclaimed, "How can a pot die?"

Hodja replied, "If a pot can give birth, surely it can die as well."