1. How can a man keep his kingdom
unimpaired to the end?
You could best establish its security if you were to imitate the
unceasing benignity of God, for if you exhibit clemency and inflict mild
punishments upon those who deserve them in accordance with their
deserts, you will turn them from evil and lead them to repentance.
2. How can a man do everything for
the best in all his, actions?
If a man maintains a just bearing towards all, he will always act
rightly on every occasion, remembering that every thought is known to
God. If you take the fear of God as your starting-point, you will never
miss the goal.
3. How can a leader have friends
like minded with himself?
If they see you studying the interests of the people over whom
you rule you will do well to observe how God bestows his benefits on the
human race providing for them health and food and all other things in
due season.
4. How can a leader in giving
audiences and passing judgments still gain the praise even of those who
failed to win their suit?
If you are fair in speech to all alike and never act insolently or
tyrannically in your treatment of offenders and you will do this if you
watch the method by which God acts. The petitions of the worthy are
always fulfilled, while those who fail to obtain an answer to their
prayers are informed by means of dreams or events of what was harmful in
their requests and that God does not smite them according to their sins
or the greatness of His strength but acts with forbearance towards them.
5. How could a leader be
invincible in military affairs?
If he did not trust entirely to his multitudes or his warlike
forces, but called upon God continually to bring his enterprises to a
successful issue, while he himself discharged all his duties in the
spirit of justice.
6. How a leader might become an
object of dread to his enemies.
If while maintaining a vast supply of arms and forces he
remembered that these things were powerless to achieve a permanent and
conclusive result. For even God instils fear into the minds of men by
granting reprieves and making merely a display of the greatness of his
power.
7. What is the highest good in
life?
To know that God is Lord of the Universe, and that in our finest
achievements it is not we who attain success but God who by his power
brings all things to fulfilment and leads us to the goal.
8. How could a man keep all his
possessions intact and finally hand them down to his successors in the
same condition?
By praying constantly to God that you may be inspired with high motives
in all your undertakings and by warning your descendants not to be
dazzled by fame or wealth, for it is God who bestows all these gifts and
men never by themselves win the supremacy.
9. How could a man bear with
equanimity whatever befell him?
If you have a firm grasp of the thought that all men are
appointed by God to share the greatest evil as well as the greatest
good, since it is impossible for one who is a man to be exempt from
these. But God, to whom we ought always to pray, inspires us with
courage to endure.
10. What is the true aim of
courage?
If a right plan is carried out in the hour of danger in
accordance with the original intention, for all things are accomplished
by God to your advantage, if your purpose is good.
11. How can a man continue to be
rich?
If he did nothing unworthy of his position, never acted
licentiously, never lavished expense on empty and vain pursuits, but by
acts of benevolence made all his subjects well disposed towards himself,
for it is God who is the author of all good things and Him man must
needs obey.
12. How can a man maintain the
truth?
By recognizing that a lie brings great disgrace upon all men, and
more especially upon kings, for since they have the power to do whatever
they wish why should they resort to lies? In addition to this you must
always remember, that God is a lover of the truth.
13. What is the teaching of
wisdom?
As you wish that no evil should befall you, but to be a partaker
of all good things, so you should act on the same principle towards your
subjects and offenders, and you should mildly admonish the noble and
good. For God draws all men to Himself by his benignity.
14. How can a leader be a friend
of men?
By observing that the human race increases and is born with much
trouble and great suffering: wherefore you must not lightly punish or
inflict torments upon them since you know that the life of men is made
up of pains and penalties, for if you understood everything you would be
filled with pity, for God also it pitiful.
15. What is the most essential
qualification for ruling?
To keep oneself free from bribery and to practice sobriety during
the greater part of one’s life, to honour righteousness above all things
and to make friends of men of this type. For God too is a lover of
justice.
16. What is the true mark of
piety?
To perceive that God constantly works in the Universe, and knows
all things and no man who acts unjustly and works wickedness can escape
His notice. As God is the benefactor of the whole world, so you too must
imitate Him and be void of offence.
17. What is the essence of
leadership?
To rule oneself well and not to be led astray by wealth or fame
to immoderate or unseemly desires, this is the true way of ruling if you
reason the matter well out. For all that you really need is yours, and
God is free from need and benignant withal. Let your thoughts be such as
become a man, and desire not many things but only such as are necessary
for leading.
18. How a man’s deliberations,
might be for the best?
If he constantly set justice before him in everything and thought
that injustice was equivalent to deprivation of life. For God always
promises the highest blessings to the just.
19. How can a man be free from
disturbing thoughts in his sleep?
Because we cannot bring our true selves into play during the
hours for sleep, but are held fast in these by imaginations that cannot
be controlled by reason. For our souls possess the feeling that they
actually see the things that enter into our consciousness during sleep.
But we make a mistake if we suppose that we are actually sailing on the
sea in boats or flying through the air or travelling to other regions or
anything else of the kind. And yet we actually do imagine such things to
be taking place. As far as it is possible for me to decide, I have
reached the following conclusion. You must in every possible way, govern
your words and actions by the rule of piety that you may have the
consciousness that you are maintaining virtue and that you never choose
to gratify yourself at the expense of reason and never by abusing your
power do despite to righteousness. For the mind mostly busies itself in
sleep, with the same things with which it occupies itself when awake. In
addition, he who has all his thoughts and actions set towards the
noblest ends establishes himself in righteousness both when he is awake
and when he is asleep. Wherefore you must be steadfast in the constant
discipline of self.
20. How can I avoid doing anything
unworthy of myself?
Look always to your own fame and your own supreme position that
you may speak and think only such things as are consistent therewith,
knowing that all your subjects think and talk about you. For you must
not appear to be worse than the actors, who study carefully the role,
which it is necessary for them to play, and shape all their actions in
accordance with it. You are not acting a part, but are really a king,
since God has bestowed upon you a royal authority in keeping with your
character.
21. What is the highest form of
government?
To rule oneself and not to be carried away by impulses, for all
men possess a certain natural bent of mind. It is probable that most men
have an inclination towards food and drink and pleasure, and kings a
bent towards the acquisition of territory and great renown. However, it
is good that there should be moderation in all things. What God gives,
that you must take and keep, but never yearn for things that are beyond
your reach.
22. How can a man be free from
envy?
If you consider first of all that it is God who bestows on all
kings glory and great wealth and no one is king by his own power. All
men wish to share the glory but cannot, since it is the gift of God.
23. How can a man despise his
enemies?
If you show kindness to all men and win their friendship, you
need fear no one. To be popular with all men is the best of good gifts
to receive from God.
24. How can a leader maintain his
great renown?
If you are generous and large hearted in bestowing kindness and
acts of grace upon others, you will never lose your renown, but if you
wish the aforesaid graces to continue yours, you must call upon God
continually.
25. To whom ought a man to show
liberality?
All men acknowledge that we ought to show liberality to those who
are well disposed towards us, but I think that we ought to show the same
keen spirit of generosity to those who are opposed to us that by this
means we may win them over to the right and to what is advantageous to
our selves. But we must pray to God that this may be accomplished, for
he rules the minds of all men.
26. To whom ought we to exhibit
gratitude?
To our parents continually, for God has given us a most important
commandment with regard to the honour due to parents. In the next place,
He reckons the attitude of friend towards friend for He speaks of a
friend which is as thine own soul. You do well in trying to bring all
men into friendship with yourself.
27. What is it that resembles
beauty in value?
Piety, for it is the pre-eminent form of beauty, and its power
lies in love, which is the gift of God. This you have already acquired
and with it all the blessings of life.
28. If a man were to fail, how
could he regain his reputation again in the same degree?
It is not possible for you to fail, if you have sown in all men
the seeds of gratitude which produce a harvest of goodwill, and this is
mightier than the strongest weapons and guarantees the greatest
security. However, if any man does fail, he must never again do those
things, which caused his failure, but he must form friendships and act
justly. For it is the gift of God to be able to do good actions and not
the contrary.
29. How can a man be free from
grief?
If he never injured any one, but did good to everybody and
followed the pathway of righteousness, for its fruits bring freedom from
grief. However, we must pray to God that unexpected evils such as death
or disease or pain or anything of this kind may not come upon us and
injure us. But if you are devoted to piety, no such misfortune will ever
come upon you.
30. What is the highest form of
glory?
To honour God and this is done not with gifts and sacrifices but
with purity of soul and holy conviction, since all things are fashioned
and governed by God in accordance with His will. Of this purpose you are
in constant possession as all men can see from your achievements in the’
past and in the present.
31. Is wisdom capable of being
taught?
The soul is so constituted that it is able by the divine power to
receive all the good and reject the contrary.
32. What is it that is most
beneficial to health?
Temperance and it is not possible to acquire this unless God
create a disposition towards it.
33. How can a man worthily pay the
debt of gratitude to his parents?
By never causing them pain, and this is not possible unless God
dispose the mind to the pursuit of the noblest ends.
34. How can a man become an eager
listener?
By remembering that all knowledge is useful, because it enables
you by the help of God in a time of emergency to select some of the
things which you have learned, and apply them to the crisis which
confronts you and so the efforts of men are fulfilled by the assistance
of God.
35. How can a man avoid doing
anything contrary to the law?
If you recognize that it is God who has put the thoughts into the
hearts of the lawgivers that the lives of men might be preserved, you
will follow them.
36. What is the advantage of
kinship?
If we consider that we ourselves are afflicted by the misfortunes
which fall upon our relatives and if their sufferings become our own
then the strength of kinship is apparent at once, for it is only when
such feeling is shown that we shall win honour and esteem in their eyes.
For help, when it is linked with kindliness, is of itself a bond, which
is altogether indissoluble and in the day of their prosperity we must
not crave their possessions, but must pray God to bestow all manner of
good upon them.
37. How can a man attain freedom
from fear?
When the mind is conscious that it has wrought no evil, and when
God directs it to all noble counsels.
38. How can a man always, maintain
a right judgment?
If he constantly set before his eyes the misfortunes which befall
men and recognized that it is God who takes away prosperity from some
and brings others to great honour and glory.
39. How can a man avoid a life of
ease and pleasure?
If he continually remembered that he was the ruler of a great
empire and the lord of vast multitudes, and that his mind ought not to
be occupied with other things, but he ought always to be considering how
he could best promote their welfare. He must pray, too, to God that no
duty might be neglected.
40. How can a leader recognize
those who are dealing treacherously with him?
If he observed whether the bearing of those about him was natural
and whether they maintained the proper rule of precedence at receptions
and councils, and in their general intercourse, never going beyond the
bounds of propriety in congratulations or in other matters of
deportment. But God will incline your mind to all that is noble.
41. What is the grossest form of
neglect?
If a man does not care for his children and devote every effort
to their education, for we always pray to God not so much for ourselves
as for our children that every blessing may be theirs. Our desire that
our children may possess self-control is only realized by the power of
God.
42. How can a man be patriotic?
By keeping before your mind, the thought that it is good to live
and die in one’s own country. Residence abroad brings contempt upon the
poor and shame upon the rich as though they had been banished for a
crime. If you bestow benefits upon all, as you continually do, God will
give you favour with all and you will be accounted patriotic.
43. How can a man live amicably
with his wife?
By recognizing that womankind are by nature headstrong and
energetic in the pursuit of their own desires, and subject to sudden
changes of opinion through fallacious reasoning, and their nature is
essentially weak. It is necessary to deal wisely with them and not to
provoke strife. For the successful conduct of life, the steersman must
know the goal toward which he ought to direct his course. It is only by
calling upon the help of God that man can steer a true course of life at
all times.
44. How can a man be free from
error?
If you always act with deliberation and never give credence to
slanders, but prove for yourself the things that are said to you and
decide by your own judgment there quests which are made to you and carry
out everything in the light of your judgment, you will be free from
error, but the knowledge and practice of these things is the work of the
Divine power.
45. How can a man be free from
wrath?
If he recognized that he had power over all even to inflict death
upon them, if he gave way to wrath, and that it would be useless and
pitiful if he, just because he was lord, deprived many of life. What
need was there for wrath, when all men were in subjection and no one was
hostile to him? It is necessary to recognize that God rules the whole
world in the spirit of kindness and without wrath at all, and you must
of necessity copy His example.
46. What is good counsel?
To act well at all times and with due reflection, comparing what
is advantageous to our own policy with the injurious effects that would
result from the adoption of the opposite view, in order that by weighing
every point we may be well advised and our purpose may be accomplished.
And most important of all, by the power of God every plan of yours will
find fulfilment if you practice piety.
47. What is philosophy?
To deliberate well in reference to any question that emerges and
never to be carried away by impulses, but to ponder over the injuries
that result from the passions, and to act rightly as the circumstances
demand, practicing moderation. But we must pray to God to instil into
our mind a regard for these things.
48. How should a man act with
recognition when travelling abroad?
By being fair to all men and by appearing to be inferior rather
than superior to those amongst whom he was travelling, for it is a
recognized principle that God by His very nature accepts the humble. And
the human race loves those who are willing to be in subjection to them.
49. How can a man build in such a
way that his structures would endure after him?
If his creations were on a great and noble scale, so that the
beholders would spare them for their beauty, and if he never dismissed
any of those who wrought such works and never compelled others to
minister to his needs without wages. For observing how God provides for
the human race, granting them health and mental capacity and all other
gifts, he himself should follow His example by rendering to men a
recompense for their arduous toil. ‘For it is the deeds that are wrought
in righteousness, that abide continually.
50. What is the fruit of wisdom?
That a man should be conscious in him self that he has wrought no
evil and that he should live his life in the truth. Since it is from
these that the greatest joy and steadfastness of soul and strong faith
in God accrue to you if you rule your realm in piety.
51. ‘How can a man keep himself
from pride?’
‘If he maintains equality and remembers on all occasions that he
is a man ruling over men. And God brings the proud to naught, and exalts
the meek and humble.’
52. Whom ought a man to select as
his counsellors?
Those who have been tested in many affairs and maintain unmingled
good will towards him and partake of his own disposition and God
manifests Himself to those who are worthy that these ends may be
attained.
53. What is the most necessary
possession for a king?
The friendship and love of his subjects, for it is through this
that the bond of goodwill is rendered indissoluble. And it is God who
ensures that this may come to pass in accordance with your wish.
54. What is the goal of speech?
To convince your opponent by showing him his mistakes in a well
ordered array of arguments. For in this way you will win your hearer,
not by opposing him, but by bestowing praise upon him with a view to
persuading him. And it is by the power of God that persuasion is
accomplished.
55. How can a man live amicably
with the many different races that formed the population of his country?
By acting the proper part towards each and taking righteousness
as your guide, as you are now doing with the help of the insight which
God bestows upon you.
56. Under what circumstances ought
a man to suffer grief?
In the misfortunes that befall our friends when we see that they
are protracted and irremediable. Reason does not allow us to grieve for
those who are dead and set free from evil, but all men do grieve over
them because they think only of themselves and their own advantage. It
is by the power of God alone that we can escape all evil.
57. How is reputation lost?
When pride and unbounded self-confidence hold sway, dishonour and
loss of reputation are engendered. For God is the Lord of all reputation
and bestows it where He will.
58. To whom ought men to entrust
themselves?
To those, who serve you from goodwill and not from fear or self
interest, thinking only of their own gain, for the one is the sign of
love, the other the mark of ill will and time serving. For the man who
is always watching for his own gain is a traitor at heart. But you
possess the affection of all your subjects by the help of the good
counsel which God bestows upon you.
59. What is it that keeps a
kingdom safe?
Care and forethought that no evil may be wrought by those who are
placed in a position of authority over the people and this you always do
by the help of God who inspires you with grave judgment.
60. What is it that maintains
gratitude and honour?
Virtue, for it is the creator of good deeds, and by it evil is
destroyed, even as you exhibit nobility of character towards all by the
gift which God bestows upon you.
61. How can a leader in time of
war maintain tranquillity of soul?
By remembering that he had done no evil to any of his subjects,
and that all would fight for him in return for the benefits which they
had received, knowing that even if they lose their lives, you will care
for those dependent on them. For you never fail to make reparation to
any such is the kind-heartedness with which God has inspired you.
62. How can a man avoid being
deceived by fallacious reasoning?
By noticing carefully the speaker, the thing spoken, the subject
under discussion and by putting the same questions again after an
interval in different forms. But to possess an alert mind and to be able
to form a sound judgment in every case is one of the good gifts of God.
63. Why is it that the majority of
men never become virtuous?
Because all men are by nature intemperate and inclined to
pleasure hence injustice springs up and a flood of avarice. The habit of
virtue is a hindrance to those who are devoted to a life of pleasure
because it enjoins upon them the preference of temperance and
righteousness, for it is God who is the master of these things.
64. What ought leaders to obey?
The laws, in order that by righteous enactments they may restore
the lives of men, Even as you by such conduct in obedience to the Divine
command have laid up in store for yourself a perpetual memorial.
65. Whom ought we to appoint as
governors?
Those who hate wickedness and imitate the conduct of good men
righteously that they may maintain a good reputation constantly and it
is God who has bestowed upon them the crown of righteousness.
66. Whom ought we to appoint as
officers over the forces?
Those who excel in courage and righteousness and those who are
more anxious about the safety of their men than to gain a victory by
risking their lives through rashness, for as God acts well towards all
men, so too, you in imitation of Him are the benefactor of all your
subjects.
67. What man is worthy of
admiration?
The man who is furnished with reputation and wealth and power and
possesses a soul equal to it all, you yourself show your actions are
most worthy of admiration through the help of God who makes you care for
these things.
68. To what affairs ought kings to
devote most time?
To reading and the study of the records of official journeys,
which are written in reference to the various kingdoms, with a view to
the reformation and preservation of the subjects and it is by such
activity that you have attained to a glory which has never been
approached by others, through the help of God who fulfils all your
desires.
69. How ought a man to occupy
himself during his hours of relaxation and recreation?
To watch those plays which can be acted with propriety and to set
before one’s eyes scenes taken from life and enacted with dignity and
decency is profitable and appropriate. For there is some edification to
be found even in these amusements, for often some desirable lesson is
taught by the most insignificant affairs of life. But by practicing the
utmost propriety in all your actions, you have shown that you are a
philosopher and you are honoured by God on account of your virtue.
70. How ought a man to conduct
himself at banquets?
You should summon to your side men of learning and those who are
able to give you useful hints with regard to the affairs of your kingdom
and the lives of your subjects, for you could not find any theme more
suitable or more educative than this since such men are dear to God
because they have trained their minds to contemplate the noblest themes
as you indeed are doing yourself since all your actions are directed by
God.
71. What is best for the people?
That a private citizen should be made king over them or a member of the
royal family?
He who is best by nature, for kings who come of royal lineage are
often harsh and severe towards their subjects. And still more is this
the case with some of those who have risen from the ranks of private
citizens, who after having experienced evil and born their share of
poverty, when they rule over multitudes they turn out to be crueller
than the godless tyrants. But, as I have said, a good nature which has
been properly trained is capable of ruling, not so much because you
excel in the glory of your rule and your wealth but rather because you
have surpassed all men in clemency and philanthropy, thanks to God who
has endowed you with these qualities.
72. What is the greatest
achievement in ruling an empire?
That the subjects should continually dwell in a state of peace
and that justice should be speedily administered in cases of dispute.
These results are achieved through the influence of the ruler when he is
a man who hates evil and loves the good and devotes his energies to
saving the lives of men, just as you consider injustice the worst form
of evil, since God bestows upon you a mind which is pure and untainted
by any evil.
CONCLUSION
These men all excelled in virtue and possessed
extraordinary knowledge, and have all made God the starting-point of
their words. For since the universe is managed by providence and since
we rightly perceive that man is the creation of God, it follows that all
power and beauty of speech proceed from God.
