Zwei Mönche

Two monks, both heavy smokers, were unable to stop smoking during prayers. To solve this dilemma they each wrote the Pope a letter to get his opinion on the subject. Three weeks later they got together again and found to their surprise that the Pope had given only one of them permission to smoke. On comparing their letters, they found the solution. The first monk had asked, "May I smoke during prayers?" and the answer was "No." The second monk, however, had framed his question differently. He wrote: "May I pray while I am smoking?"

Next time, when someone says "no" to you, don't accept it right away.