PENALTIES

What though a man possesses great wealth? If he is difficult of access and when approached puts on a harsh countenance, his great wealth is only like haunted treasure.

The treasure is there, and well-guarded, but it is useless to society. Sevvi is the accessibility of kings and great men.

Harsh speech and excessive and cruel punishments steadily reduce the king's power of resistance against his enemies, even as a file files off iron.

A cruel king gathers round him the most ignorant and worthless men and he becomes a burden to the good earth.

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