Once upon a time there lived an eastern ruler, whose wisdom, like the sun, illuminated the country with life-giving rays. No one could surpass him in intelligence or compare with him in wealth.
One day the vizier came to him with a sad face:
- O great Sultan, you are the wisest, greatest and most powerful in our country. Both life and death are in your hands. However, what did I hear when I traveled through cities and villages! Everyone praises you, but there are also those among them who spoke ill of you. They mocked you and criticized your wise decisions. How can there be, O greatest of the great, such disobedience in your kingdom?
The Sultan smiled indulgently and replied:
- Like everyone in my kingdom, you know about my services to my subjects. Seven provinces are under my control. The seven provinces under my rule became rich and prosperous. In seven provinces they love me for my justice. Of course, you're right, I can do a lot. I can order the huge gates of my cities to be closed, but one thing I cannot do is shut the mouth of my enemies. It’s not important that some say bad things about me, but that I do good for people!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru