The Mayor and the Lantern!

A story is told of a mayor in France many years ago. Electricity had not been invented. So, people had to walk in the dark during the night times. One night, the mayor was walking on the street when a man happened to dash against the mayor. This annoyed the mayor. The next day, he placed an order that anyone who travelled on the streets at night must carry a lantern.

Some days later, the mayor was walking in the street when the same man dashed into him again. The mayor became angry and asked the man where his lantern was. The man showed him the lantern. The mayor said, “The lantern is empty,” shouted the mayor. “But you only asked us to carry a lantern. You did not ask us to keep anything inside it,” replied the man, and walked away.

The very next day, the mayor ordered that the lanterns must have candles in them. Within just one week, the man bumped into the mayor in the dark again. The mayor was fuming as he asked, “I am sure you do not have a lantern.” The man replied calmly, “No sir, I have one.” So saying, the man took out his lantern. “I believe you do not have a candle,” shouted the mayor. “I have it. Look here,” said the man showing his lantern with a candle inside. The mayor was enraged and shouted, “Then why didn’t you light the candle?”

The man replied, “Your order was for us to have a lantern, with a candle inside. There was nothing about lighting a candle.” The story goes on to say that the mayor realized his foolish orders and cancelled them all.

Many a time, we give instructions that are not complete in themselves.

Accurate and complete instructions result in desired output.

Recheck and edit any information that you send.