Artwork Information

Nasreddin Hodja has been variously described as a trickster, wise man, judge and story teller, whose tales have been popular for centuries throughout Turkey and the Muslim world. His tale 'Everyone Is Right' is a good example of his wisdom:

Once when Nasreddin Hodja was serving as qadi, one of his neighbors came to him with a complaint against a fellow neighbour. The Hodja listened to the charges carefully, then concluded, "Yes, dear neighbour, you are quite right."

Then the other neighbour came to him. The Hodja listened to his defense carefully, then concluded, "Yes, dear neighbour, you are quite right."

The Hodja's wife, having listened in on the entire proceeding, said to him, "Husband, both men cannot be right."

The Hodja answered, "Yes, dear wife, you are quite right."