It happened once upon a time that the wife of the Mullah Nasruddin gave her husband a scolding. “You are selfish, Nasruddin! You never think about the feelings of others,” she told him. “You only think of yourself. You should try to be more sympathetic to people.”

Later, Nasruddin met a friend in the marketplace, and decided to follow his wife’s advice. “How is your wife?” he asked.

“My wife?” said the man. “Have you not heard? She is in heaven with the angels now.”

“In heaven with the angels? I am sorry to hear it!” said Nasruddin firmly.