Once upon a time, a farmer lived with his son and donkey. One day, the farmer decided to take his son and donkey and go to the city to shop. So, they left early in the morning and all 3 of them started walking towards the city. On their way to the city, they met a young man.
The man chuckled at them when he saw them walking with the donkey. The farmer then asked him as to what made him laugh and the man said that he found it odd that 2 people were walking with a donkey. According to him, if he had the donkey, he would have rode on the back of it. He said that the two of them were fools for having a donkey and still walking, instead of riding it. And with that, he went on his way. The farmer then asked the son for his opinion and the son said it would be better if the farmer rode the donkey. So saying, the farmer leapt on to the donkey and they continued their journey.
They then met an old man. The old man saw the farmer riding the donkey and the son walking. The man said that he found it odd that a young person was made to walk whereas the older person was riding the donkey. According to him, if he had the donkey, he would have made the younger person ride on the back of it. He said that the two of them were fools for not being able to take a proper decision. And with that, he went on his way. The farmer then asked the son for his opinion and the son said it would be better if he rode the donkey now. So saying, the farmer got down and the son leapt on to the donkey and they continued their journey.
They then met an old woman. The old woman saw the son riding the donkey and the farmer walking. The woman said that she found it odd that an old person was made to walk whereas the younger person was riding the donkey. According to her, if she had the donkey, she would have made the older person ride on the back of it. She said that she was disappointed in the younger generation. And with that, she went on her way. The farmer then asked the son for his opinion and the son said it would be better if they both rode the donkey now. So saying, the farmer too leapt onto the donkey and they continued their journey.
They then met a young girl. The girl saw both of them riding the donkey and was very upset. The girl said that she found it odd that the donkey was being made to struggle. According to her, if she had the donkey, she would take care of it properly if she were to ride on it. She said that she was disappointed in humans for their careless attitude. And with that, she went on her way. The farmer then asked the son for his opinion and the son said it would be better if they both walked now. So saying, the farmer got down from the donkey and lifted the donkey upon his shoulders. They then continued their journey by walking.
After a while, the farmer kept the donkey on the ground and looked at his son and asked him what was to be done. As the son thought, the farmer said that he made him take all the decisions since he wanted to assess him. The son nodded and said that he was very confused as so many people had said so many things. The farmer then said that always in life, people will tell a thousand things about how something should be done and not done. He added that if he were to listen to everyone’s opinions, then he would be going nowhere and no work would get completed. So, he urged his son to take the best decision with the resources in his hand.
By now the son was clear in his thinking and he said that he got a good idea. He told the farmer to ride the donkey for a third of the distance, and after that he would ride the donkey for another third of the distance. And for the final third of the distance, they would both walk, giving the donkey some rest. The farmer was now happy with the decision the son had taken and the 3 of them resumed their journey.
Moral - One must always use their own thinking to make a decision, instead of listening to the various opinions of other people.