Every Friday, Nasreddin would arrive at the market with a donkey to sell. He always sold the donkey very cheaply, at a far lower cost than any of the other donkeys that were for sale.
Finally, one of the merchants confronted Nasreddin. "I do not understand how it is possible!" he exclaimed. "With threats of violence, I compel the farmers who are my tenants to give me food for my donkeys at no cost. My workers are slaves and I pay them no wages for taking care of the donkeys. That means I am able to sell my donkeys at the lowest possible price, but you sell your donkeys for even less. How can that be?"
Nasreddin smiled at the merchant and explained, "You steal the food and the labor. I, however, just steal the donkeys!"
