Repartee of the Wise

According to a legend, there was once a traveller who came across a wise man sitting outside his village. Upon seeing the wise man, the traveller decided to ask him what kind of people lived in that particular village, since he was looking for a suitable place to settle down.

In answer to the traveller’s question, the wise man asked, “Well, good man, what sort of people lived in your village?” The traveller replied, “Oh, they were really mean and cruel.” At this, the wise man said to him, “Well, I am afraid the same kind of people live in this village too.”

After some time, another traveller passed by the same village and he too asked the same question of the wise man. Similarly, he was asked, “You tell me first, what kind of people lived in your village?” The second traveller replied, “The people in my village were very kind and courteous.” The wise man then said to him, “Don’t worry, son, you will also find the same kind of people in this village.”

The wise man’s companion who witnessed both incidents was now perplexed and demanded to know why he had said entirely different things about the people of his village to the two travellers. The wise man said, “Brother, this is because most people often find what they look for!”