Nasruddin Hodja and his son went on a journey once. Hodja preferred that his son ride the donkey and that he himself go on foot. On the way they met some people who said:
- Look at that healthy young boy! That is today’s youth for you. They have no respect for elders. He rides on the donkey and makes his poor father walk!
When they had passed by these people the boy felt very ashamed and insisted that he walk and his father ride the donkey. So Hodja mounted the donkey and the boy walked at his side. A little later they met some other people who said:
-Well, look at that! That poor little boy has to walk while his father rides the donkey.
After they had passed by these people, Hodja told his son:
-The best thing to do is for both of us to walk. Then no one can complain.
So they continued on their journey, both of them walking. A little ways down the road they met some others who said:
-Just take a look at those fools. Both of them are walking under this hot sun and neither of them are riding the donkey!
Hodja turned to his son and said:
-That just goes to show how hard it is to escape the opinions of men…
