the
mechanic and the surgeon story
(perceptions, the devil is in the detail, the nature of big differences)
A heart surgeon took
his car to his local garage for a regular service, where he usually exchanged a
little friendly banter with the owner, a skilled but not especially wealthy
mechanic.
"So tell
me," says the mechanic, "I've been wondering about what we both do
for a living, and how much more you get paid than me.."
"Yes?.."
says the surgeon.
"Well look at
this," says the mechanic, as he worked on a big complicated engine,
"I check how it's running, open it up, fix the valves, and put it all back
together so it works good as new.. We basically do the same job don't we? And
yet you are paid ten times what I am - how do you explain that?"
The surgeon thought
for a moment, and smiling gently, replied, “Try it with the engine
running.."
