Fear and Rule

 

'Hurmuz' (ancient Persian King) was asked, "What fault did you see in your father's viziers that you had them imprisoned."

"I did not discover any particular fault," he said, "but I saw that dread of me in their hearts was boundless and they did not have complete confidence in my ability to rule. I was afraid that, in fear of being stung themselves, they would try to destroy me. Therefore I put into practice the saying of the wise:

"Fear him who fears you, O wise on, even if you can overcome in battle a hundred like him."