A Tale: Wealth Without Kindness

I heard there was a man of clean and noble land, learned and devout, in the far reaches of Anatolia. So a few of us, travelers used to crossing the wilds, set out to meet him. He kissed each of us on the eyes and head, took our hands, seated us with dignity and honor, then sat down. I saw his gold, his crops, his servants, his fine clothes, yet he was as barren of generosity as a tree with no fruit. The man was warm in his manners and his talk, but strangely cold when it came to the cooking pot. All night he found no rest or sleep, busy with prayers and praises to God, while we lay awake from hunger. At dawn he tightened his belt, opened the door, and began again with the same kindness and polite questions. One of our traveling companions in that quarter was a sweet and good-humored man. He said to me: 'Change one letter and give me bread instead of a kiss, for a poor man needs food more than affection.' 'Don't fuss over my shoes in your polite service; just give me bread, and throw the shoes at my head if you like.' 'It is by selfless giving that true men have pulled ahead, not by staying up all night with a dead heart.' 'The same thing I've seen in a Tartar night watchman: a dead heart and eyes that stay open till morning.' 'True honor is generosity and feeding others; empty speeches are just a hollow drum.' 'On the day of resurrection you'll see in paradise the one who sought real substance, not the one who only claimed paradise.' 'A claim is proven only by real substance; words without deeds are a flimsy thing to lean on.'