A young man entered a monastery hoping to become a monk. The Order which he wished to join had a strict rule of silence. The abbot told him on his first day that he would be on probation for fifteen years. During that time he would be allowed to speak only once every five years and then only for one minute with the abbot himself.
The young man accepted and was registered as a novitiate. Eventually the first five years passed and he was summoned to the abbot’s study.
“How are you going on, my son?” asked the abbot.
“Oh, all right, thank you, Reverend Father,” replied the young man.
“Have you any complaints?” asked the abbot.
“Well, Sir, yes, there is one thing. The porridge is always cold at breakfast. It would be so much nicer if it were hot.”
“Right,” said the abbot, “I will see to that. Time is now up.”
The young man left and did not speak again to anyone for five years. Then he had to go again to the abbot’s study.
“How are you going on?” asked the abbot.
“Oh, all right, thank you, Sir, I think,” answered the novitiate.
“Have you any complaints?” asked the abbot.
“Well, Sir, there is just one thing, the bed is very hard and I find it difficult to sleep. Could I please have a little more straw in my mattress?”
“Right,” said the abbot, “I will see to that. Time is now up.” And the young man had to leave.
Another five years passed and the young man went to see the abbot for the last time.
“Reverend Father,” he said, “my fifteen years’ probation is at an end. Are you going to accept me as a full member of your Order?”
“Dear me, no,” replied the abbot. “You have done nothing but complain since you got here!”