It happened once upon a time that Mullah Nasruddin was invited to the governor’s palace. When he arrived there, the governor said to him, “Nasruddin, I want your advice. There is an astrologer who has come, claiming to have much knowledge of the stars and planets, and how they control our destiny, but I am not sure if he is trustworthy.”

Nasruddin nodded solemnly. “As your excellency wishes.”

Then the astrologer was brought in, and the three of them sat together. Over cups of tea, the astrologer began to discourse about the journeys of the stars through the heavens, and their influence upon the lives and affairs of humans.

After the third cup of tea, the Mullah leaned forward and said, “Do you know who I am?”

“Forgive me, Mullah,” said the astrologer, “but I do not know.”

“Then,” said Nasruddin, “if you do not know who is sitting next to you, what can you know about the stars in the sky?”