Moral: It is impossible to please everyone; follow your own reason.
A Miller and his Son were taking their Ass to market to sell it. Wanting to keep the Ass fresh and in good condition, they walked alongside it, letting it move at its own pace. They hadn’t gone far when a group of travelers criticized them, saying, “Surely, one of you should ride instead of both walking while the Ass walks freely.” Following this advice, the Miller put his Son on the Ass.
A little further along, another group remarked, “You lazy boy! Why aren’t you letting your poor father ride?” The Miller, heeding their words, switched places with his son and rode the Ass himself. Soon, they encountered a third group who scolded the father, saying, “How can you let that poor lad trudge through the dirt while you ride comfortably?” Feeling corrected, the Miller lifted his Son onto the Ass behind him.
As they approached a town, the next passerby shouted in indignation, “Was there ever such a pair of fools! Overloading that poor animal like this!” Trying to satisfy everyone, the Miller and his Son decided to carry the Ass by tying its legs together and using a pole. As they crossed a bridge, the peculiar sight attracted crowds who laughed and jeered. The Ass, distressed by the noise and the awkward situation, broke free from the ropes, fell off the pole, and drowned in the river.
Ashamed and disheartened, the Miller and his Son headed home, realizing that in trying to please everyone, they had pleased no one and lost their Ass in the process.
