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One morning, four years before his days were all counted Tamerlane had Nasrudin called and said: "This day as I'm sixty-five years old I feel inclined to ponder. It occurs to me that I spent so much of my life reading the thoughts of my enemies and then, counting their skulls, that I didn't take time all these years to read books and better myself. Is it too late for me? As you are a teacher, teach me. How would that be, to seek improvement at my age?" "You can always light a small candle, Amir" "Are you testing my patience, worm? What help is a small candle for a Grand Emir, Master of the entire Happy Constellation?" "Sublime Padishah, learning is light. For a young child study is like the sun that will make him see the whole world in broad daylight. For the middle-aged man learning is like the moon. Under its silvery shine the weary traveller can find his way on the narrow path through the night. As for the old, the one like you Ruler, learning is lighting a small candle in the depth of night. But when it's dark enough one candle is plenty. Instead of black nothing you see a friendly speck of light that warms your heart.

(c) Copyright 1998-2004 Ioan Tenner