English
On the Guidance of a King
It is clear that the just king, may his fortune last, is fit for guidance and open to advice.
Know that anyone who governs a people and holds power and rule must learn something of the ways of kings and apply it to important matters, both to win a good name and to hope for a good end.
First, let him begin all his works in the name of God, and seek His help. Let him speak only after thought, and not share his heart's secret with just anyone. Let him practice humility, and never turn his face from the words of those with real concerns. Let him not oppress his subjects, and never set aside the punishment of thieves or the retribution owed for bloodshed because someone interceded. Let him not tangle with a strong enemy, nor tyrannize the weak. First advise those close to you; only afterward blame outsiders. Plain injustice is to stay silent at the sins of favorites while beheading the common folk. Rulers are like the head and the people like the body; a foolish head tears its own body with its own teeth. He must cultivate wise people, never forget the rights of old servants, not erase the good works of former great men, not sit with the base and the untalented, and worry more about how he lives than how long he lives. An official who squeezes extra money from the people to please the king is in error, for the king needs the people more than the people need the king: the people, king or no king, are still the people, but a king without a people cannot even be imagined. Let him listen to the words of elders who have seen the world; show mercy to children, women, and dependents; protect merchants and travelers; help those who have suffered loss; and never appoint wicked men as his deputies, so that the curse against them does not fall on him alone. Let him not listen to the words of someone with an ulterior motive, and inflict no punishment until he has reached the bottom of the crime. And let him not be fooled by this world's five short days.
The world does not last, and happy is the soul of the one who leaves behind a good memory in the world.
The ruler is to his people as the shepherd to the flock: if he fails to guard the flock, the wages of his shepherding are unlawful. Let him read much of the tales of former kings, so as to learn goodness from the ways of the good and take warning from the fate of the wicked. Let him reflect on the lives of the departed, place no trust in untested people, never assign a great task to lesser men, and preserve his own dignity. Let him not always admit jesters, musicians, entertainers, and their like into his company, nor grow used to backgammon, chess, and other amusements. Let him not go too often after archery, ball games, and hunting. Let him not delay in putting down the wicked, and let him do good to both friend and foe, so that the love of friends grows and the hatred of enemies fades. Let him never feel safe from treachery and poison, never be careless of an ambush, and always sit as though the enemy were at the door, so that if the foe suddenly bursts in he is not caught unprepared. Let him inspect the prison from time to time, put to death those who deserve it, and free those who should be freed; punish a small crime according to its measure, and keep his hand off the innocent, and give alms to the destitute. Whoever he dismisses from his presence without fault, let him not deprive forever. Let him put back to work the men who have known dismissal and hardship, for they will strive with their lives out of fear of poverty. Let him keep his friends strong so his enemies do not grow strong; let him not quarrel with a strong enemy; let him not tell his friends everything, for friendship does not last forever; and let him not inflict every kind of hurt on an enemy, for one day that enemy may become a friend. Let him not oppress the people, so that on the day of trouble they do not lean toward the enemy. Let him sit with dignity before strangers, but show no arrogance toward his own peers; honor the departed, his companions, and his old friends; from time to time show kindness to his family and kin; keep faith with acquaintances; and hold men of good name in respect, appointing trusted people to serve them. The willful and reckless man is unfit for lordship, and fortune does not stay with him. Kings must have authority over the affairs of the realm, and judges over the affairs of religion; otherwise both realm and religion fall to ruin. As far as he can, let him do no evil; and if, God forbid, fate strikes and a wrong is done, let him busy himself with setting it right and strive to do good, but let him not grow bold in sinning by relying on the chance to fix it, for the mended is never the equal of the whole. Let him pardon the offense of one for whom everyone will pray well, not the one for whom only he prays. And before he speaks, let him think whether he would approve of these words if another said them; only then let him speak.
Let him not take as a friend one who slanders others, for he will do to him just what he did to the rest. As long as enemies can be repelled with money and gentleness, let him not risk his life, for turning to flee is better than throwing a punch at a sword. Let him keep his affairs in proportion and hold his hand open in generosity. The sum of all advice is this: whatever you can afford to give, give it.
Be generous, good-natured, and giving; since God is with you, you be with your servant.
Let him divide his precious hours: some for the management of the kingdom and worldly affairs, some for pleasure and sleep, and a portion for worship and private prayer with God, especially at the hour of dawn, when the heart is clear. Let him form good intentions, and ask God for help in doing good. Let him make his inner self honest with both God and people, and not sleep until he has taken account of himself, of what came from him that day; so that if he has done no good he may repent and feel remorse, reproach himself, impose on himself a penalty for what he has done, and strive to do good.
Let him keep his affairs in proportion: be kind, but not so much that others take advantage of him; be generous, but not so much that his resources grow weak; guard his treasury, but not so much that his attendants and army suffer hardship; grow angry, but not so much that people come to loathe him; and play, but not so much that his dignity is lost. Wherever he goes, let him seek strength from God and not rely on his own power. The charge of ruling a kingdom is a mighty thing; one must stay awake and alert, and it is never right to be always given over to amusement and merriment.
Many a man of fortune sat down to play, and while he played, his fortune slipped from his hand.
Let him hear this much of Sadi's advice and apply it to important matters; and when he profits by it, let him not withhold his good prayers, and let him keep his hand open in generosity.
Scatter gold, since you will leave the world behind; for Sadi scattered pearls when he had no gold to give.