It happened once that the Mullah Nasruddin was walking with a student by the bank of a swift flowing river. The Mullah was in a particularly philosophical mood, and he was trying to pass on some of his wisdom to the student.

“You must learn,” he told the student, “not to expect much from people. There are very few people in this world who know how to think.”

“Really?” said the student.

“I assure you,” said Nasruddin. “Most people just say the first thing that comes into their head, without giving it any thought at all.”

At that moment, they saw a stranger standing on the far bank of the river, waving to them. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he called to them, “Can you tell me how to get to the other side of the river?”

“There!” said Nasruddin to the student. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. What a ridiculous question!”

Then the Mullah called back to the stranger: “You ARE on the other side!”