It happened, once upon a time, that someone asked Mullah Nasruddin a question.

“Mullah, how does one become wise?”

At the question, the Mullah straightened his turban, seriously stroked his beard, and tried to look as wise as possible while he frantically searched his brains for an answer.

After a short silence, the person asked, “Is is by much study?”

“Study!” said Nasruddin dismissively. “What is study? My own house doesn’t contain a single book.” The Mullah was certain of this, for he had burnt the last one on a cold night not long ago to keep warm.

“Perhaps by long fasts and night vigils?” suggested the person.

“It is wise to be moderate in these matters,” Nasruddin replied, stalling for time. He raised a pious finger. “Wisdom and excess are strangers!”

“I see. But then, how does one become wise?”

At last, an idea came to Nasruddin. Very seriously, he said, “You have to use these,” and he pointed to his ears.

“My ears?” said the other person. “What do you mean, Mullah?”

“Listen very carefully when someone wise is speaking. And when someone is listening to you, listen very carefully to what you say.”