Nasrudin was once the student of a sage renowned for his understanding of human nature. One day, one of the wise man’s disciples brought a plate of confectionery to his master as an offering. Noting Nasrudin’s keen interest in the sweets, the wise man warned him to avoid the plate as the food was laced with a deadly poison. He then left the room. Nasrudin,

enticed by the aroma of honey and almonds, picked up the plate and inadvertently dropped it and the delicacies on the floor. He quickly swept up the broken china and frenziedly ate up the sweets. The sage returned and started to shout: “Who dared to move my plate?” “Alas!” sighed the distraught Nasrudin, clutching his stomach, “I broke your valuable plate but I chose death as my punishment, and ate up all the poison!”