Origin of 'looking where the light is good'?

Question

Do you know?
the story of a man crawling on the ground under a lamp post. When the cop asks what he is doing the man says he is looking for his keys. When the cop asked if he had dropped his keys there the man says no, but that is where the light is good.
I have heard this as a story about doing science experiments that may yield results even if the experiment isn't exactly what you want to do. Does anyone know the origin of the story? I seem to recall it has an old history (before electric lights?)
Thanks!!

Answer 1

Sufi takes - Look up Nesrudin (the wise fool)

Answer 2

I can tell you this sort of story has been around since I was a kid, 70 years ago. My Dad--a great one for bringing out the same old "chestnuts"--would use the line. If I had dropped something and was looking for it he'd say, with a twinkle in his eye, why don't you look over by the window--there's more light over there!

Answer 3

old joke, there were drunks and gas lights

the idea is we can only do what we have the tools for

like" if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"



today most of what science does uses instruments because the human senses cannot detect the effect , radio waves for example