Essay on A Mirror For Princes

Submitted By TayMo1121
Words: 1196
Pages: 5
Open Document
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
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on A Mirror For Princes

Is Disney Good Or Bad For Children Essay

According to Jena Stephens, Disney has changed their princess archetypes from damsels in distress to strong woman (95). The female leads in Disney movies are becoming more independent that do not set out looking for their princes. For example, in Tangled, Rapunzel does not want to find a prince, she does not even know that she is a princess. During the movie all she wants to do is go and see the lights and she uses Flynn to do just that. She did not plan on falling in love during her trip it just happened…

Words 1101 - Pages 5

Queen and Mirror Essay

Does anyone know what it is like to take over the responsibility of someone else’s child? It is very hard and sometimes things just get crazy. I really am not a bad person but I was young and beautiful when I met the King, the mirror told me so. That mirror always whispering in my ear about how beautiful I am and there was no one more beautiful than me. That child seemed to be the apple of her father’s eye. Okay I admit it I was a little jealous. But I honestly do not remember anything…

Words 803 - Pages 4

Essay on Beuaty and the Beast

a week later, he gives her a ring which will allows her to come back imminently and a mirror to see what's happening at the castle. He trusts her enough to let her go visit her sister so they created a bond of trust that she won’t try to trick him. Belle's sisters trick her into staying one day later than a week in hope of the beast becoming angry and killing her, but Belle feels guilty and looks into the mirror to see the Beast dying of heartbreak. She uses the ring to return to him half dead, weeps…

Words 334 - Pages 2

How Is Disney Helping Or Ruining Our Children's Mind

all seen them as children and we watched them more time then we can remember; from the poisoned apple of Snow White to the icy powers of Frozen, we all love Disney movies. We all remember that Disney movies have beautiful Princesses and handsome Princes, and ugly and evil villains. The things that Disney teaches children are far and wide in reaching, but they are also teaching thing that their parents don’t even realize are being taught. In the classical Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarves…

Words 500 - Pages 2

Comparing Morality In Machiavelli's The Prince And Julius Caesar

An intertextual examination of The Prince (1513), a political treatise by Niccolò Machiavelli and Julius Caesar (1599), a historical tragedy by Shakespeare enhances the reader’s understanding of the shared authorial values regarding state stability and morality despite their different contextual values. Machiavelli’s The Prince reflects the Renaissance Humanist ideals diverging from a conventional form by exploring the struggles of maintaining power and moral principles. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar…

Words 1098 - Pages 5

Snow White Vs Cinderella Research Paper

older women in their lives who want nothing more than to make them miserable. Cinderella has an evil step mother who makes her dress in rags and keep up with the house. The queen in Snow White is so vain she wants Snow White dead just because her mirror tells her that Snow White is the fairest in all the land. If you're not satisfied with what you look like or who you are as a person, you will end up living a very miserable life. Jealousy can cause people to do crazy things and in the end they…

Words 742 - Pages 3

Disney Princesses Essay

harmful, many girls have grown up watching “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Both consist of a girl whose beauty seems flawless, in need of saving, whether it be from a sleeping curse, an evil step mother, and so on. The Princess is saved by a noble prince, whom she marries and lives happily ever after with, never having to work for what she wants. Disney Princesses are not good role models for young girls because they teach girls to chase perfection rather than having confidence in their own skin,…

Words 1340 - Pages 6

Symbolism In The Masque Of The Red Death

as an allegory to convey that death is inescapable. The story tells of Prince Prospero hiding away in his castle and throwing an elaborately lavish party for 1000 of his subjects while the country is perishing rapidly by a plague knows as the Red Death. Poe gives lavish details about a magnificent masquerade ball that mirrors the concept of facing imminent death, no matter one’s station in life. The wealthy friends of the Prince are no more protected from the Red Death than any of the subjects outside…

Words 629 - Pages 3

Cinder Research Paper

the disease, and being wanted by the queen. One day Cinder sneaks out to the king’s ball and meets a lovely prince. Prince Kai’s father, the Emperor of New Beijing, has Letumosis. But that’s not the worst of it. The Lunar Queen is planning to invade Earth. And Kai is the only one who can stop her by marrying her. But that’s all the harder when he’s already in love with the mechanic…

Words 447 - Pages 2

The Prince And The Pauper Quote Analysis

know them and who they really are. The excerpts from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and the adaption of “The Prince and the Pauper” by Spencer Kayden, both revolve around trying to understand one another and see things from the other person’s point of view. In the text “The Prince and the Pauper”, the Prince and the Pauper, “[trade] clothes[ and] regard themselves in the mirror”(25). The two realize how alike they are and the rest of the characters don’t realize they…

Words 613 - Pages 3