It happened once upon a time that Nasruddin was sitting with a friend, watching the crowds push and surge around them on market day. Perhaps it was the noise or the heat, but the Mullah was feeling a bit cynical about human nature, and he said to his friend, “These people don’t know how to think for themselves. They are like sheep.”

“Why do you say so, Mullah?” asked his friend.

“See for yourself,” said the Mullah. “One farmer shouts, ‘Fine cucumbers!’ and they all flock around him—until another one shouts, ‘My cucumbers are better!’ And they all go to him. Then a third farmer shouts, ‘Best cucumbers, all the way from Damascus!’ and they have no idea where Damascus is, but they all go to him. They are sheep!”

The friend was not convinced. “Surely there are some who think for themselves.”

“I tell you,” said Nasruddin, “if I stand up and say any nonsense that comes into my head, the market will be empty in five minutes. Watch.”

With that, the Mullah stood up on a bench, and began to shout. “People! Listen! Good news! The governor is feeling generous, and he has decided to give a gold piece to everyone who comes to his gate before the next call to prayer.”

There was a sudden silence, and then as the news ran through the crowd, everyone began to push toward the palace of the governor. Soon the market was almost deserted.

“Very impressive, Mullah,” said the friend.

“Never mind that,” said Nasruddin, jumping to his feet. “Let’s go! We have to be there before the call to prayer.”

“But, Nasruddin,” said the friend in astonishment, “you yourself made up that story!”

“True,” said Nasruddin, “but you never know—it might have been my intuition speaking.”