One very hot day, Hodja and his son were going to the market. The boy was riding on their donkey and Hodja was walking along beside them.
A man passed by and said, “Look at that! Young people today have no respect for their elders. That strong young man is riding and the older man in walking.”
So Hodja told his son, “You’d better let me ride,” and they changed places.
Soon another man came by and said, “Look at that! That poor little boy has to walk in this hot sun while his lazy father rides!”
So Hodja told his son, “I guess we should both walk.”
Then two more men came by and saw them both walking. One turned to the other and said, “Look at those two fools! They have a fine donkey and neither of them is riding it on this hot day.”
Hodja turned to his son and said, “You see, it does no good to listen to what others say.”
