It happened once upon a time that Mullah Nasruddin heard a tantalising rumour, that the governor of the province was looking for a person to serve as a judge – but not just any person. It should be someone who was truly humble! To find the right candidate the governor had supposedly sent one of his minsters to journey incognito through the province, looking for signs of humility.

When a stranger appeared in Nasruddin’s village, therefore, the Mullah, whose insight and cleverness are incomparable, surmised that it must be the governor’s secret agent. He introduced himself to the visitor, wearing his turban, and with a fisherman’s net draped around his shoulders.

“How strange that you wear a fisherman’s net,” said the stranger. “What is the reason for it?”

“To remind myself of my humble origins,” Nasruddin said piously. “I was a mere fisherman in my youth.”

Not surprisingly, the Mullah got the job.

Some time later, as the Mullah was preparing for his first day as a judge, the governor’s agent paid him a visit.

“I wish you success,” he said to Nasruddin. “But you are not wearing your net today. Why is that?”

“There is no need for a net,” the Mullah replied, “once the fish has been caught.”