A Remedy for Self-Importance?

Mulla Nasruddin On His Travels
As he was about to sit down, the palace guard quickly came over to him and said: “Sir, that chair is reserved for our guest of honor.”
“I am much more than a mere guest, honorable or not,” the Mulla replied without yet sitting down.
“Well, who are you? Are you a diplomat?” the guard asked.
“No, I am not a diplomat,” the Mulla said. “I am much higher than that.”
“Well, perhaps you’re a minister,” the guard suggested suspiciously.
“Not even close; I’m much higher than that,” the Mulla said.
“Well, the only title higher than that is the title of king,” the guard replied with undisguised impatience. “Are you perhaps the king himself?” he asked with great sarcasm.
“No, I am much higher than that.”
“Are you crazy? In this town, nobody is higher than the king,” the guard said angrily.
“Ah, at last. Now you understand. I am nobody!” the Mulla said as he sat down.
A free rendering by me of one of my favorite Mulla Nasruddin stories.
Amazing…so true!
I know this story a little differently, but it is an old favorite. I did not know it was a Mulla Nasruddin story…thank you!