Effective Communication

Jack and Max are walking from religious service. Jack wonders whether it would be all right to smoke while praying. Max replies, “Why don’t you ask the priest?”

So Jack goes up to the priest and asks, “Father, may I smoke while I pray?”

But the priest says, “No, my son, you may not. That’s utter disrespect to our religion.” Jack goes back to his friend and tells him what the good priest told him. Max says, “I’m not surprised. You asked the wrong question. Let me try.” 

And so Max goes up to the priest and asks, “Father, may I pray while I smoke?” To which the priest eagerly replies, “By all means, my son. By all means.”

The reply you get depends on the question you ask. 

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What Matters

When living in South Africa, Gandhi was walking along a narrow path and accidentally brushed against a white man.

On being insulted, Gandhi turned and said, “If you prick your white skin, red blood will appear. If I prick my brown skin, red blood will appear. We both look alike on the inside. That’s where God sees us.”