Nixivan had invited his friends to supper and was cooking a succulent piece of meat for them. Suddenly, he realised that he had run out of salt. So Nixivan called to his son.
‘Go to the village and buy some salt, but pay a fair price for it: neither too much nor too little.’
His son was surprised.
‘I can understand why I shouldn’t pay too much for it, Father, but if I can bargain them down, why not save a bit of money?’
‘That would be the sensible thing to do in a big city, but it could destroy a small village like ours.’
When Nixivan’s guests, who had overheard their conversation, wanted to know why they should not buy salt more cheaply if they could, Nixivan replied:
‘The only reason a man would sell salt more cheaply than usual would be because he was desperate for money. And anyone who took advantage of that situation would be showing a lack of respect for the sweat and struggle of the man who laboured to produce it.’
‘But such a small thing couldn’t possibly destroy a village.’
‘In the beginning, there was only a small amount of injustice abroad in the world, but everyone who came afterwards added their portion, always thinking that it was only very small and unimportant, and look where we have ended up today.’
in The Devil and Miss Prym
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…me gusto mucho ese libro, ademas de identificarme en el…
Affected with communism
Nice story, like all his stories, I agree with it, but I do not agree that the story has something to do with religions, it is a “MORAL” point of view, it is very different.
Yeah….we all have the significant share in it….we need to reform ourselves to undo our mistakes….
sounds good but not practical in this world now to gt things fr … people r so selfish they wouldn’t give a hand to support weak people unless h finds a profit it it —- present world feelings/love and emotions are also not produce for free
keep on sharing :)
This is very instructive story. It is true that ignoring little or seemingly unimportant rules make the matters worse with passing time. People just shrug off their shoulders, when asked to follow the rules and laws even if they seem trivial. But it is my personal experience that with the passage of time the little things become big and little or petty crimes grow in proportion and make life miserable for people. However, people are usually trapped in their habits and emotions that develop with their age and don’t care or mind doing anything until suffering starts. Some even don’t accept that their miseries are the result of their own doings. However, one has to pay a price even for a his/her little actions and Newton’s saying that ” TO EVERY ACTION THERE IS AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION ‘ is absolutely true and it reflects an absolute truth that is the essence of all the faiths and religions.
Lovely story !
If just everyone starts thinking in this way
Thanks for sharing
The way you convince the reader in your writings is EXCEPTIONAL!!
Thanks Paulo for sharing your incredible vision:-)
I am sorry for being so foolish. I would like to be fair, neither give too much nor too less, but how do I know which is the fair price.
The other day I was in a dilemma. My house was shifted and the office arranged for a mover and packer and as per policy sent a mail that we should not pay any additional money to the workers. However, the normal payment in India does not include tips and there is no defined norm for paying it. Is paying it unfair and if the answer is no then how much should be a fair amount.
I was taught from childhood that running out of salt would also mean running out of money…Old hebridean thoughts…But strangely enough I always make sure I have plenty of that precious commodityx Many lessons to be learned by your observations Paulo….Thank Youx You are a very wise manxxxx
Thank you Paulo Coelho for your masterpieces that -with their simplicity- teach us a big deal about life ;)
God bless you!
Now its responsibility of everybody to undo the injustice bit by bit. The way forward is to dissect the bigger problems and working towards contributing positively towards solution part of the problem.
True
pagar el precio justo siempre es recomendable no abusar de la gente que està necesitado por vender algun servicio o mercaderìa ya que al hacerlo estaremos empujando a esa persona y su familia a la pobreza e incluso a problemas grandes de autoestima seamos justos para que asì tengamos crèdito con Dios cuando tengamos que dar nuestras cuentas siempre hay que tener presente que con la vara que mides seràs medido y aun mas en estos tiempos duros es necesario aprender a ser justo para no hacer daño a nuestros hermanos .
te agradezco paulo por recordarnos si estamos olvidando las constumbres y don de gentes que debe emanar de nosotros naturalmente para bien de nuestra raza humana ya que esos sentimientos es lo que nos diferencia de los animales te amo mucho paulo
I like!!!informacion!!!!greetings!!!!
C’est du Franc Pourcell.
:)
I love you.
But, who decide and who knows what the right price is? Who is the Right Person to tell?
In Sweden we have a word “lagom”. That means inbetween expensive and cheap, big or small, bad or good weather. When things are “lagom” its inbetween. But, once again, who knows what´s “lagom” price??
There are only two kinds of people in God’ eyes. Those who look up to him and those who turn their back on him. Social status is a dangerous myth created by man that is self limiting.
The first step to look up to Him is to care for your fellow man.
beautiful
one should must appreciate other’s hard work dedication, and never take advantage of someone’s situation.
this is something which comes from within and is totally unrelated to upbringing……..
The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said ” Beware of minor sins, they gather on you even you Perish
Importantes Granos de arena, somo capaces de destruir o construir mundos completos, solo con eso, un grano de arena cada uno.
wisdom possibly is always within and known to us,
but to say it in a slightly new way, a creative way
gives rise to inspiration and righteousness.
Nixivan;on the other hand;still has to pay a high price for the life of the animal slaughtered; to serve a piece of meat to friends!!!
and nobody believed Nexivan and bought Made in China things for ridiculous price :-)
the lack of respect is an evidence for lack of humanity…and a lack of understanding the world in its small pieces….the rest ist IGNORANCE by GOD!!!
Wow
And I vision a world where all will be free, sharing our gifts, giving what one has freely as a passion, receiving from the other who does the same, living on an Earth that is free, an Earth that needs each and everyone to take care as gardener, giving, giving, giving, sharing, sharing, sharing, where no money is needed or is at the source of the relations … well, a vision …
Love, Jojo.
great.such a lovely n vast story.thanks
This how to defy our “ancient Original Disorder or Chaos.” Thanks Paulo. Good day!
We have an expression in Albanian:
“Gur gur bëhet kalaja.” Which means, stone after stone we build the castle.
It is an expression I love, and I strongly believe. When we ask for fairness must know that their little attribute to the world is already something big, even if they might not realize it for the moment.
An unfair act less to the society is already a lot, so don’t hesitate. That was what I used to tell myself, and this is what I strongly believe now.
There is no use to compare it to the rest, since it is already a LOT, no matter if you reach to the castle or not. :)
A single smile can be only one smile but it already is a LOT.
Two inches of clean ground from pollution can be only two inches but it is already a LOT.
…
One saved life can be only one compared to thousands of others, but it is already a lot, because it is a PRICELESS treasure, so just CARE FOR IT, take care of that and lets us not judge on terms “bigger”, “little”, “more important”, “less important” because these are just illusions of our minds.
:)
Love
Olta
is this really “the only reason” or is it just the only reason Nixivan can imagine this day? his conclusion is pessimistic and he blames everyone.
“For most of us, don’t-know is a place of get-me-out-of-here-quick.” Linda Heuman
Thank you for reminding us to respect each others work (and each others rights). The world would look much better, if we always did.
And I like Ken Cranes illustration. He has always this special shining in his paintings.
Thank you so much for this source of inspiration. You always help me see things from a different perspective.
We can correct these big mistakes the same way. If all of us contribute a small amount of justice with our deeds, then everybody who comes afterwards will add their portion. And at last it will be a huge change for the betterment of our universe…
love & hugs,
varah
Great story. Fair is fair. You treat others fair you’ll be treated fair.
Thank you
Wow, it is amazing how this shows how far we can get when we make ourselves believe that what we do won’t make a big difference.
so true….
thank u 4 sharing…
It looks like an egg timer with holes in it.
A sun is rising above the Earth in a blue sky.
The content is precious, small grains of multi-colored sand filtered one by one slowly and without any rush through a narrow passage.
Little by little, the accumulation of the grains of sand has grown into a geometric pattern in the shape of a triangle (pyramid)
It is fed by two small clouds and a quarter moon with scintillating stars.
Outside, two coins are seen on the right and one on the left.
It reminds me of the ‘Alchemist’.
A trans formation, a connection with the Universal language of love
With love
Marie-Christine
If we learn not to be selfish and start respecting your fellowmen’s hardworking, prosperity will prevail in the world. Let’s learn to support the needy and not to exploit his bad day….
“Mercy and faithfulness shall meet. Justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring up from the Earth, and justice shall look down from Heaven.” (Psalm 85:10-11)
————————————————-
everything we do matters.. every little thing.. even taking the bus only for one stop and using a ticket for it.. because that’s the price you have to take for taking the bus.. even if it’s only for one stop…. if you try to cheat it, life will cheat you back… if you try to put alower price life will give you a lower price too..
paying the right price is …. well.. right… so that
“Mercy and faithfulness shall meet. Justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring up from the Earth, and justice shall look down from Heaven.” (Psalm 85:10-11)
Love and Gratitude
Annie
I remember grandma telling me:
“Never by anything from a man who needs money, because it is unfair”
may she rest in peace
and thanks paulo :)
le cose devono sempre avere un giusto prezzo ne troppo da sopravvalutarle ne troppo poco da sottovalutarle.
l’armonia è l’equilibrio
bello il disegno…ritorniamo ad amarci,ad amare quanto di piu’bello ci circonda, nella semplicita’di quello che di buono ci è stato consegnato,in rispetto di chi è stato,che ha amato , che ha inseguito un sogno da trasmetterci*
qunant’è vera questa storia..quanti si vedono rispettati nel lavoro..a quanti viene riconosciuto il lavoro svolto..che sia un piccolo artigiano ,un operaio,un insegnante,tutti coloro che lottano, perche’ li venga riconosciuto che in quello che hanno svolto vi è racchiuso Amore,studio professionalita’ etica..Trovo molto difficile ad oggi che il giusto sia riconosciuto..dovremmo fermarci per un attimo ,restare tutti in silenzio e ascoltare la voce del cuore,dell’intimo piu’ profondo.Il rispetto di noi,implica il rispetto degli altri.
A very nice story. I would like to post a link, about trade in the world today. Just one of many, many examples. Sometimes pictures speak louder than words. The documentation states: “The Dark Side of Chocolate”.
I wish you all a wonderful day.
We should all start a little farming village together and barter, forget money.
A story for … thought! Thank you, my dearest Paulo Coelho!
‘Go to the village and buy some salt, but pay a fair price for it: neither too much nor too little.’
A FAIR PRICE : It is said that prices vary according to the demand and to the necessities. So people, companies, the SYSTEM ‘create’ the … demand! Then we see prices rising and rising .. These necessities are … illusory (πλασματικές)! They make wars to sell weapons! The pharmaceutical companies promote their drugs by ..announcing miraculous effects or by creating … diseases so that they will … cure them! The price of Gold, Silver and Diamonds are in the hands and interests of the … System! Lately we have read that a whole DIAMOND planet exists! Imagine we could ‘solve’ our problems! But then who would buy them? It is lack and .. desire that keeps the system working. These riches do not belong to the companies but to … MOTHER EARTH!
‘In the beginning, there was only a small amount of injustice abroad in the world, but everyone who came afterwards added their portion, always thinking that it was only very small and unimportant, and look where we have ended up today.’
““Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.”
Philemon.
Blessings.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Ahhh…many times I said that, and people dont like the idea. And it happened to me to, because indeed I was desperate and had no choice, but too give things on very low price( included my ex house, which I miss so much now…my rose bush…ohhh). I think if people would be right and dont undepay for labour or things,we would have a happier world, but the bad thing is that some are never happy with their fortune, they need more and more, for useless things to buy or to show up with. And others who work hard barely have a shelter and to eat from one day to another. So is not for a small village…or, if we think that our world is already a village…globalisation.
Whatever it is there’s always a price to pay; either by overdoing it or deciding not doing anything at all. Since we’re all somewhat connected to one another, in a significant way, we’re all somewhat responsible for the world’s destruction or salvation. And this too is a belief worthy to be considered, by the young and old alike. Thank you sir for this wonderful reminder.
When God created Earth maybe said – a gift for you to travel.
Anyways, God made men, Men made money.
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