“The World Does Not Let One Live in Any Condition”

Life of the Woodcutter

Long ago, in a small village surrounded by forests and hills, there lived a poor woodcutter and his young son. The woodcutter’s only source of livelihood was cutting wood from the forest. Every day, he and his son would gather firewood, load it on their donkey, and sell it in the nearby city. The money they earned was enough for bread, a few vegetables, and sometimes a little rice.

They lived a simple life. The donkey was not only their helper but almost like a member of the family. It carried heavy bundles of wood every day, and the woodcutter often said, “This animal may not speak, but it feeds us like a silent partner.”

One year, during the spring season, a fair was announced in a neighboring village. The fair was a grand event. People from nearby towns and villages would attend. There were music, dancing, colorful stalls, sweets, toys, and merchants selling different goods. Children especially loved the fair because it was full of excitement.

The woodcutter’s son, like any other child, was filled with joy when he heard about it. He ran to his father and pleaded,
“Father, everyone in the village is going to see the fair. Why can’t we also go? I want to see the colors, the toys, and the games.”

The father shook his head with a tired smile.
“My son, fairs and festivals are for the rich. Poor people like us survive only by hard work. If we waste a day at the fair, who will bring us food? But the boy’s eyes were filled with such innocent hope that the father’s heart softened.

“Alright, son,” he said gently, “just for your happiness, we shall go to the fair.”


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The Journey Begins

Early the next morning, father and son prepared to leave. They thought about what to do with the donkey.
“If we leave it at home, it will remain hungry and thirsty all day,” said the father.
“And if we give it to someone, they will use it for their own work,” the boy added.

Finally, they agreed to take the donkey with them. “It will be under our care,” said the father, “and on the way back, if we find wood or other things, the donkey will help us carry them.”

So the three companions—father, son, and donkey—set out for the fair. The donkey walked ahead while father and son followed behind.


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The First Criticism

After walking some distance, they met a group of travelers. The men laughed and said loudly,
“Look at these fools! They have a donkey, yet they both walk while the animal goes empty. What stupidity!”

The father thought about it. “Perhaps they are right, son. It is a long journey, and the donkey can carry one of us. You are young, so you ride. I will walk.”

The boy climbed onto the donkey’s back, and they continued.


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The Second Criticism

Not long after, they passed some old men. One of them frowned and said to the others,
“What has the world come to? Children no longer respect their elders. Look at that lazy boy, riding comfortably while his poor father walks!”

The boy felt ashamed and quickly got down.
“Father,” he said, “they are right. You are old. You should ride, and I will walk.”

The father, though reluctant, finally sat on the donkey while his son walked beside him.


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The Third Criticism

Soon, they encountered some women. One of them shook her head and said,
“What a cruel father! He rides while his poor child walks in the sun. Does he have no heart?”

The father grew troubled. He stopped the donkey and said,
“Son, you see how people talk? If you ride, they criticize. If I ride, they criticize. Perhaps the only way is for both of us to ride.”

So, father and son both sat on the donkey and moved ahead.


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The Fourth Criticism

As they approached another village, some young men saw them and shouted,
“Shame on you! Two people riding on one poor creature. Do you have no fear of God? Such cruelty to animals will surely be punished!”

The father and son froze. Once again, people disapproved. The father sighed heavily.
“My son, no matter what we do, the world is never satisfied. Let us try something different.”


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The Foolish Attempt to Please All

They tied the donkey’s legs together with a rope, passed a thick pole between them, and lifted the animal onto their shoulders. Now the father walked in front, his son behind, and the donkey hung upside down between them.

People who saw this burst out laughing.
“Look at these fools! Carrying a donkey on their shoulders! Have you ever seen such madness?”

Still, the father and son continued. But when they reached a narrow wooden bridge over a stream, the donkey panicked. It thrashed and kicked wildly. The pole slipped from their hands, and with a loud splash, the donkey fell into the water below. The poor animal, still tied by its legs, drowned in the stream.

Father and son stood helpless, their hearts filled with grief.


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The Idea and Reflection

The woodcutter finally sat on a rock and said,
“My son, today we have learned a bitter truth of life. Someone once said, ‘One person cannot please the whole world.’ And it is true. We tried to listen to everyone, to follow every opinion, and in the end, we lost the very creature who was our companion and support.”

He placed his hand on his son’s shoulder and continued,
“In life, people will always talk. Some will criticize you for doing too much, others for doing too little. If you waste your time trying to satisfy every voice, you will lose your path, your peace, and sometimes even the things most precious to you. The only way to live is to follow what is right, not what everyone says.”


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Moral of the Story

👉 Do what is right, not what pleases others.

If you try to satisfy everyone, you will end up satisfying no one—and may even destroy yourself.