I think high level generalizations are found in aphorisms and teaching stories from all around the world. They can sometimes be shorthand for a whole story, for example I often remind myself not to eat my money referencing this story:
Mulla Nasrudin, as everyone knows, comes from a country where fruit is fruit and meat is meat, and curry is never eaten. One week he was plodding along a dusty Indian road, having newly descended from the high mountains of Kafiristan, when a great thirst overtook him. “Soon,” he said to himself, “I must come across somewhere that good fruit is to be had.” No sooner were the words formed in his brain than he rounded a corner and saw sitting in the shade of a tree a benevolent-looking man with a basket of fruit in front of him. Piled high in the basket were huge, shiny red fruits. “This is what I need,” said Nasrudin. Taking two tiny coppers from the knot at the end of his turban, he handed them to the fruit-seller. Without a word, the man handed him the whole basket, for this kind of fruit is cheap in India, and people usually buy it in smaller amounts. Nasrudin sat down in the place vacated by the fruiterer and started to much the fruits. Within a few seconds, his mouth was burning. Tears streamed down his cheeks; fire was in his throat. The Mulla went on eating. An hour or two passed, and then an Afghan hillman came past. Nasrudin hailed him, “Brother, these infidel fruits must come from the very mouth of Sheitan!” “Fool!” said the hillman. “Hast thou never heard of the chillis of Hindustan? Stop eating them at once, or death will surely claim a victim before the sun is down.” “I cannot move from here,” gasped the Mulla, “until I have finished the whole basketful.” “Madman! those fruits belong in curry! Throw them away at once.” “I am not eating fruit any more,” croaked Nasrudin, “I am eating my money.”
--Idries Shah’s “The Pleasntries of the Incredible Mulla Nasrudin
So “Don’t eat your money” is a warning against the sunk cost fallacy.
But wouldn’t the rational response in the mullah’s situation be to start selling the “fruits” for about the same price as the one you bought them from.
it’s worth noting that he bought them for 2 pennies and the vendor is now gone, but yeah, sunk cost fallacy seems to be about right. For me, the visualization of the story is more real and powerful to me than remembering an abstract idea. There’s quite a lot of these stories and most of them are rather old, some more of them are here...
I think high level generalizations are found in aphorisms and teaching stories from all around the world. They can sometimes be shorthand for a whole story, for example I often remind myself not to eat my money referencing this story:
Mulla Nasrudin, as everyone knows, comes from a country where fruit is fruit and meat is meat, and curry is never eaten. One week he was plodding along a dusty Indian road, having newly descended from the high mountains of Kafiristan, when a great thirst overtook him. “Soon,” he said to himself, “I must come across somewhere that good fruit is to be had.” No sooner were the words formed in his brain than he rounded a corner and saw sitting in the shade of a tree a benevolent-looking man with a basket of fruit in front of him. Piled high in the basket were huge, shiny red fruits. “This is what I need,” said Nasrudin. Taking two tiny coppers from the knot at the end of his turban, he handed them to the fruit-seller. Without a word, the man handed him the whole basket, for this kind of fruit is cheap in India, and people usually buy it in smaller amounts. Nasrudin sat down in the place vacated by the fruiterer and started to much the fruits. Within a few seconds, his mouth was burning. Tears streamed down his cheeks; fire was in his throat. The Mulla went on eating. An hour or two passed, and then an Afghan hillman came past. Nasrudin hailed him, “Brother, these infidel fruits must come from the very mouth of Sheitan!” “Fool!” said the hillman. “Hast thou never heard of the chillis of Hindustan? Stop eating them at once, or death will surely claim a victim before the sun is down.” “I cannot move from here,” gasped the Mulla, “until I have finished the whole basketful.” “Madman! those fruits belong in curry! Throw them away at once.” “I am not eating fruit any more,” croaked Nasrudin, “I am eating my money.”
--Idries Shah’s “The Pleasntries of the Incredible Mulla Nasrudin
So “Don’t eat your money” is a warning against the sunk cost fallacy.
But wouldn’t the rational response in the mullah’s situation be to start selling the “fruits” for about the same price as the one you bought them from.
Interesting point…
it’s worth noting that he bought them for 2 pennies and the vendor is now gone, but yeah, sunk cost fallacy seems to be about right. For me, the visualization of the story is more real and powerful to me than remembering an abstract idea. There’s quite a lot of these stories and most of them are rather old, some more of them are here...
http://www.nasrudin-stories.com/