A Mirror for Princes

A Mirror for Princes

(1082 CE)

Kai Ka'us Ibn Iskander

Kai Ka'us Ibn Iskander. 1951. A Mirror for Princes. Translated by Reuben Levy. London: The Cresset Press.

Many societies have developed political philosophies. In the ancient Mediterranean and the Middle East, these philosophies often took the form of what are known as "instructions," or tracts written from a father to his son, dispensing relevant political advice. Sometimes these were from rulers to their heirs, but often they were from government officials to their sons. While not technically an "instruction," the following document includes political advice from a Persian prince to his son.
Written around 1082 C.E. by Kai Ka'us Ibn Iskander, the grandson of an important prince, A Mirror for Princes is also designed for consumption by the author's son. The document provides advice on all aspects of life, ranging from how to purchase slaves, to how to raise children, to proper behavior and etiquette. In addition, it includes lengthy discussions of how rulers should rule, behave, and deal with their subjects. This advice is often in the form of stories, and thus, the following document is written as if by one of the author's ancestors, Nushirwan, to that relative's son.

The Counsels of Nushirwan the Just to his Son
NUSHIRWAN BEGAN BY saying: As long as day and night come and go, never marvel at the vicissitudes of [human] affairs. Then he said: How is it that men commit actions of which they afterwards repent, although others before them have done them and repented?
How can a man who has acquaintance with kings lay himself down to sleep free of care?
How can a man count himself happy whose life has not gone according to his desires?
Why not account that man your enemy who secretly knows his generosity to be to the detriment of mankind ?
Do not call him your friend who is the enemy of one of your well-wishers.
Form no friendship with men lacking merit, for such men are worthy neither of friendship nor of enmity.
Beware of the man who deems himself wise but is in actual fact a fool.
Do good of your own accord, thus may you be free of the [compulsion of the] lawgiver.
Speak the truth though it be bitter, and if you desire your enemy not to become possessed of your secret do not reveal it to your friend.
The great man who looks upon himself as small is indeed the great man of his age.
Do not regard as living creatures men who lack all value.
If you desire to be rich without unhappiness, let all your actions be worthy of praise.
Do not buy at any price, so that you may not be compelled to sell at any price.
Better die of hunger than be sated with the bread of ignoble men.
Place no reliance, for some fancy you may conceive, upon untrustworthy men, nor cease your reliance upon them you can trust.
Regard it as a great misfortune to stand in need of kinsmen humbler than oneself, for it is better to die in the water than to beg help of a frog.
The sinner who is a humble seeker after the next world is better than the devout but self-important man who is a seeker after this world.
There is no fool greater than he who sees a man of lowly state risen to greatness and yet continues to regard him as lowly.
There is no fault greater than for a man to lay claim to knowledge which he does not possess and then to resort to lying.
Be not misled by him that gives something which he has picked up in exchange for something not so [easily] acquired.
There is no meaner person in the world than he to whom appeal is made for help and though able to grant it refuses.
Regard him that speaks ill of you, when you are innocent, more worthy of forgiveness than him who carried the report of it to you.
He that is stricken by the misfortune of one dear to him suffers less grievously than he that hears of it and is helpless [to succour].
He that is afflicted by what his eyes behold suffers far more than he who himself suffers affliction.
Reckon any slave that is bought and sold freer than the man who is slave to his gullet.
No wise man should undertake the task of instructing him that has not been given understanding by the experience of time.
It is easier to guard a fool against anything rather than his own body.
If you desire men to speak well of you, then do you speak well of your fellow-men.
If you desire your efforts on behalf of other men not to be wasted, then do not permit others' efforts on your behalf to be wasted.
If you desire to remain free of unhappiness, be not envious.
If you do not wish to be reckoned insane, do not seek to discover the undiscoverable.
If you desire to command men's respect, then exercise justice.
If you wish not to be disillusioned, do not regard an undone task as having been done.
If you do not wish to be stricken with shame, do not remove what you have not yourself deposited; and if you desire not to be mocked behind your back, respect them that are subordinate to you.
If you wish to be saved long-lasting regret, do not indulge in the desires of your heart.
If you desire to be amongst the great, then see yourself in the mirror of other men.
If you desire to be included in the number of honourable men, give covetousness no place in your heart.
If you desire to be a man of justice, be generous as far as lies in your power towards them that are subordinate to you; and if you desire your heart never to be stricken a blow which no remedy can heal, never engage in argument with fools.
If you wish to retain men's esteem, learn how to esteem other men.
If you desire to be the most lauded of men, never reveal your secret to one who has no discretion.
If you wish to be superior to other men, be lavish of bread and salt [i.e.hospitable].
If you desire to be untouched by other men's disapprobation, then be ever laudatory of their works.
If you wish to remain beloved in the hearts of men and never to incur their dislike, then speak of them in the fashion that pleases them.
If you wish for effectiveness in your tongue, then restrain the rapacity of your hand.
These were the sayings of Nushirwan the Just. If you read these words, do not hold them in contempt, for there is exhaled from them the fragrance of wisdom and kingly dignity in that they are the utterances of sages and kings. Master them now while you are young: once you are old you will have no need to hear and acquire instructive counsel and wise saws, for time itself will have taught those who reach old age.