The Restaurateur
There was once a man who opened a restaurant, with a good kitchen, attractive tables and an excellent menu. One of his friends came along soon afterwards, and said: "Why have you not got a sign, like all the other eating-places? I suggest that you put on it 'RESTAURANT: FINEST FOOD'."
When the sign was painted and put up, another enquirer asked: "You have to be more specific -- you might mean any old restaurant. Add the words "SERVED HERE" and your sign will be complete."
The owner thought that this was a god idea, and he had the signboard duly altered.
Not long afterwards someone else came along and said: "Why do you put 'HERE'? Surely anyone can see where the place is?"
So the restaurateur had the sign changed.
Presently a further curious member of the public wanted to know: "Do you not know that the word 'SERVED' is redundant? All restaurants and shops serve. Why not take it out?"
So that word was taken out. Now another visitor said: "If you continue to use phrase 'FINEST FOOD', some people will be sure to wonder whether it really is the finest, and some will not agree. To guard against criticism and contention, please do remove the word 'Finest'."
And so he did. Now, just the word 'FOOD' was to be seen on the notice, and a sixth inquisitive individual put his head through the doorway. "Why have you got the word 'FOOD' on your restaurant: anyone can see that you serve food here."
So the restaurateur took down the sign. As he did so, he could not help wondering when somebody who was hungry, rather than curious or intellectual, would come along...
[In "Learning How to Learn", Idries Shah"
