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Literature > humour
The Subtleties and the Exploits of Mulla Nasrudin
Two volumes in one
Idries Shah
'A rare gift - healing laughter.'
New Society
New Society
Problem of communication
'Language,' said Mulla Nasrudin, 'was devised to describe actions as well as thoughts. That means that all you have to do is to get the words right, and everything will be understood.'
'But Mulla,' said a friend, 'surely that cannot apply to everything?'
'Yes, it should.'
'Then can you describe to me how the silk industry is carried out?'
'Certainly. The first part is to get the worms and untwist that which is twisted. The second part is to get rid of the worms and retwist that which has been untwisted.'
'Language,' said Mulla Nasrudin, 'was devised to describe actions as well as thoughts. That means that all you have to do is to get the words right, and everything will be understood.'
'But Mulla,' said a friend, 'surely that cannot apply to everything?'
'Yes, it should.'
'Then can you describe to me how the silk industry is carried out?'
'Certainly. The first part is to get the worms and untwist that which is twisted. The second part is to get rid of the worms and retwist that which has been untwisted.'