Which Is More Useful, the Moon or the Sun?

One evening the young men sitting in the village square were arguing. One said, "The sun is more useful. It makes the crops grow." Another said, "No, the moon is more useful. It lights our way at night." When the argument went on and on, they decided to ask Nasreddin Hodja.

"Hodja, which do you think is more useful, the moon or the sun?"

The Hodja looked up at the sky. The full moon was shining brightly. He answered without hesitation: "The moon is more useful, of course, my boys."

The young men were surprised: "Why, Hodja?"

The Hodja explained: "Because the sun rises in the daytime. In the daytime everything is bright anyway, so what do we need the sun for? But the moon rises at night. At night it's pitch dark everywhere. Without the moon we couldn't find our way. The moon comes just when it's needed. That's why it's more useful."

The young men roared with laughter. "But Hodja, it's bright in the daytime because of the sun!" said one. The Hodja stopped and raised his eyebrows: "Is that so? I thought the daytime was bright all by itself." Then he laughed too.

As he laughed, the Hodja added: "Joking aside, boys, this question has no easy answer. The sun and the moon each do their own work. One makes the crops grow, the other shows the traveller the way. Instead of arguing about which is more useful, be thankful for both. People are like that too; some work like the day, some comfort like the night. Everyone has their worth."

The young men were very pleased with these words. That night they all walked home together under the full moon. And the moon showed them the way.