You undertake to make a person so tired, by attempting to carry a small
stick out of the room, as to be unable to accomplish it, although
you will add nothing to his burthen, nor lay any restraint upon his
personal liberty. To perform this manœuvre, you take up the stick, and
cutting off a very small sliver, you direct him to carry it out of the
room, and return for more; concluding by telling him, that you mean
him to perform as many similar journeys as you can cut pieces off the
stick. As this may be made to amount to many thousands, he will of
course gladly give up the undertaking.