Difficult Case

Nasreddin Hodja was named the kadi of Aksehir. One day, two men with a dispute came to him and asked him to resolve their conflict. The Hodja listened to the plaintiff first.

`You are right!' he said when the plaintiff completed his account. Then, the Hodja listened to the defendant.

`You are right!' he said to the defendant as well. Everyone in the room was perplexed. One of the observers dared to protest.

`Kadi effendi,' he said, `You agreed with both of the parties. The dispute can't be settled if you say "you are right" to both of them.' Nasreddin Hodja considered for a moment, then he said:

`You are right too!'