Number 24

Someone said dignity lies in wealth, that money is the ally of both this world and faith. What strength can the arm of high rank show? Without money, a king is a commander with no army. An empty handed man with an imposing air, a loud name, and reputation is like an ugly woman in a beautiful veil. He is like a bird whose body is covered in feathers and plumes, yet is itself skinny beneath them. Now look at what the other man replied: it is rank, if anyone is to be a leader. A man with no known name will meet only disgrace, even if his very threshold were made of gold from his wealth. A lord needs rank, not wealth; and if you want wealth, it comes with rank anyway. If you want the truth, hear it from Saadi: contentment is better than either of these two.