One morning, a man and his young son set out for the market town with their donkey. The man walked beside the donkey, and the boy walked beside his father. They had not gone far when they met a group of travellers. One traveller laughed and said, "Look at that foolish pair! A strong donkey ready to carry a load, and they both walk on foot! Why doesn't the boy ride?" The man heard this and thought the stranger must be right. He lifted his son onto the donkey's back, and they continued on their way.
Soon they passed a cluster of cottages. An old woman leaning on her gate called out, "What a lazy boy! He rides while his poor father trudges through the dust. Have you no respect for your elders, child?" The boy's face turned red. He slid off the donkey and insisted his father take the seat. The man climbed onto the donkey, and the boy walked alongside. They hoped this would please everyone, but they were wrong.
A little further on, they met a farmer leading his cows. The farmer shook his head and said, "What a heartless man! You ride while your little son struggles to keep up. A boy's legs are shorter than yours. Let him ride!" The man felt confused. He reached down and pulled his son up behind him. Now both rode the donkey together. Surely this would satisfy everyone. The donkey plodded on, but its steps grew slower under the double weight.
An old woman leaning on her gate called out, "What a lazy boy!
As they approached the market, they crossed a bridge over a stream. A group of young women washing clothes looked up and cried, "You cruel creatures! That poor donkey can barely stand. You should be carrying it, not riding it!" The man and the boy were so ashamed that they tied the donkey's legs to a pole and carried it between them. The donkey kicked and brayed in fright. People on the road pointed and laughed at the strange sight.
When they reached the bridge again, the donkey struggled so much that it slipped from the pole and tumbled into the stream. The man and the boy watched helplessly as the donkey scrambled out and ran away into the woods. They had lost everything because they tried to please everyone. The moral of this story is simple: if you try to satisfy every person you meet, you may end up pleasing no one — and losing what matters most.