Chapter Four: On Justice, An Abolished Creed

The great forebears counted justice among the four virtues, and built the affairs of this world and the next upon it. They believed that 'by justice the heavens and the earth stand firm,' and they held to the command that 'surely God orders justice and kindness.' For this reason, kings, commanders, nobles, and ministers always devoted their efforts to spreading justice and looking after the people and the army, and they saw this as the source of their power and good name. So deeply was this held that even ordinary people practiced justice in their dealings and partnerships, and would say: Act justly, for in the realm of the heart the just one strikes at the rank of prophethood.