Knight opened with the story of a grandfather, grandson, and their mule on a long journey. First observers scolded them for making the boy walk — let him ride. Then they scolded the boy for riding while the old man walked. Then they said both should ride. Then they said the poor mule had worked so hard, they should carry it. When they tried to carry the mule, they dropped it off a bridge and it drowned. The moral, Knight declared with characteristic directness, delivered the lesson about the futility of trying to satisfy everyone.