Nasreddin Pot That Died

tale:nasreddin_pot_that_died

The Hodja borrows a pot and returns it with a small pot inside, saying it gave birth; the lender gladly keeps both. Next time the Hodja keeps the pot, and reports it has died. 'A pot cannot die!' cries the lender. 'You believed it could give birth,' says the Hodja, 'so believe it can die.' Moral: greed that swallows the absurd must swallow the loss as well. — Nasreddin Hodja