A psychology professor visited an asylum to understand the lives of the inmates. After a day of observation, he found their erratic and unpredictable behavior quite eye-opening. However, as he prepared to leave, he discovered that one of his car tires had been removed. "One of those madmen must have done this!" the professor thought indignantly as he reached for the spare tire. To his dismay, things were even worse than he thought—the person who removed the tire had also taken all the bolts. Without the bolts, even a spare tire was useless. Just as the professor was feeling helpless and anxious, a madman came skipping by, humming a cheerful, nameless tune. Seeing the professor in distress, he stopped to ask what had happened.
The professor was reluctant to engage, but out of politeness, he explained the situation.
The madman laughed heartily and said, "I have a solution!" He removed one bolt from each of the other three tires, providing him with exactly three bolts to secure the spare tire in place.
Surprised and grateful, the professor asked curiously, "How did you come up with such an idea?" The madman grinned and replied, "I may be a madman, but I am no fool!"
Reflection: In truth, many people find such immense joy in their work that they exhibit a level of passion that others find incomprehensible. While many may mock them as "madmen," others might actually be laughing at them as "fools." To be simple in character yet clever in action is a wise way to navigate the world.