Gulistan of Saadi
The Manners of Kings
Story 21
It is narrated that an oppressor of the people, a soldier, hit the head of a pious man with a stone and
that the dervish, having no means of taking vengeance, preserved the stone till the time arrived when
the king became angry with that soldier and imprisoned him in a well. Then the dervish made his
appearance and dropped the stone upon his head. He asked: ‘Who art thou, and why hast thou hit my
head with this stone?’ The man replied: ‘I am the same person whom thou hast struck on the head with
this stone on such and such a day.’ The soldier continued: ‘Where hast thou been all this time?’ The
dervish replied: ‘I was afraid of thy dignity but now when I beheld thee in the well I made use of the
opportunity.’
When thou seest an unworthy man in good luck
Intelligent men have chosen submission.
If thou hast not a tearing sharp nail
It will be better not to contend with the wicked.
Who grasps with his fist one who has an arm of steel
Injures only his own powerless wrist.
Wait till inconstant fortune ties his hand.
Then, to please thy friends, pick out his brains.
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Gulistan of Saadi | The Manners of Kings | Story 20
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