Many years ago, the blacksmith presented a very beautiful sword to Shapur, King of Sassanid.
The Persian king asked him: How long did it take to make this sword?
The blacksmith replied: all year round.
The Iranian king asked again: How long does it take to make a simple sword for a soldier?
The blacksmith said: 3-4 days.
Shapur said, “Is this sword more powerful than the hundred other swords you can make?”
The blacksmith said: “No, this sword is beautiful and fits the king’s waist!”
The Iranian king said: “I am grateful for this gift, but the king is commander, not a battle. I seek swords not for your own sake, but for the Iranian army. And the soldier without a sword is not the territory of the country and the king, or the guardian of his own life.”
Sharpur said to make him look like his father. “If I reward you, I will make ornaments for me, rather than paying attention to the real needs of the country every day. This will be the beginning of the fall of Iran.
(Dr. Hosseiniseddiq is an assistant professor of history at Islamic Azad University)