3 ms·

first possibility wouldn't be a joke imo

• LanceH 5y ago
  The other astrologer one: > An astrologer cast a sick boy's horoscope. After promising the mother that the child had many years ahead of him, he demanded payment. When she said, "Come tomorrow and I’ll pay you," he objected: "But what if the boy dies during the night and I lose my fee?" So if they look down on astrologers as being opportunistic charlatans (at least the bad ones), they are mocking that they will say one thing and when confronted about how wrong they are slide right into their next statement.
  • gverrilla 5y ago
    oh I see. didn't read that one! is it possible that the joke conveyed both meanings?
    • LanceH 5y ago
      Who knows? Generally speaking it's hard to get two meanings to both translate -- especially over 2000 years. I guess a good example of this style of joke would be a used car salesman confronted how the roof has been torn off of the car and immediately switching to upselling it as a convertible. An astrologer predicts no kids, then switches to advising on the future that he should watch over his kids.