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A man called, wanting to borrow a rope.
"You cannot have it," said Nasrudin.
"Why not?"
"Because it is in use."
"But I can see it just lying there, on the ground."
"That's right: that's its use."
--
Idries Shah, The Pleasantries of the Incredible Mulla Nasrudin (1968), ISBN 0525473068, p. 152

 

Nasreddin

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"Mulla, I want to borrow your donkey."
"I am sorry," said the Mulla, "but I have already lent it out."
As soon as he had spoken, the donkey brayed. The sound came from Nasrudin's stable.
"But Mulla, I can hear the donkey, in there!"
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Nasreddin