Persian Society Reflected in Writing

It is clear from The Rubaiyat and the Gulistan that the ancient Persians placed an extreme value on righteousness and justice. "The Manners of Kings", from the Gulistan, is a series of parables providing wisdom to padshas. Whether it is accepting a lie instead of truth because of the intentions of the speakers or acknowledging that a king only has power if his people let him, the selections make it clear that even the greatest among men need to treat others the way they want to be treated. The two collections of writings also affirm certain truths that many take for granted or fail to realize. The story in the Gulistan in which a slave is thrown overboard to teach him a lesson reminds us that we often do not appreciate saftey until in the face of danger. In The Rubaiyat, meanwhile, many of the short stanzas remind us that we are all mortal -- our lives are like leaves on a tree, or a pebble thrown into the sea -- and sometimes it's the little things in life, like a book, food, or whoever the author meant "Thou" to be, that really make us happy.