A man presented himself to the Abbot and asked to join the brotherhood. After several of the brethren counseled him, they met together and decided that they would try to let him become a postulate. "We are pleased to let you know that you can join us, but you must take a vow of silence for one year."
The man agreed and was silent for one year. At the end of his first year, the brethren told him he could only speak two words. The man thought about it and spoke two words. "Bed hard."
The brethren counseled among themselves, and the man was told that he would have to take a vow of silence for another year. Again the man agreed and was silent for one more year. At the end of the second year, the man was told he could only speak two words. Again, the man thought about it and spoke two words. "Food bad."
The brethren counseled among themselves and the man was told that he would have to take a vow of silence for another year. At the end of the third year, the man was told he could only speak two words. Again, the man thought about it and spoke two words. "I quit."
The brethren counseled among themselves, and the Abbot told him, "We were afraid of that. You've done nothing but complain since you came here."
