Story on Dress Does Not Make A Man Great

Sheikh Saadi was a great poet in Iran. He used to lead a very simple life. Once on his way to the court of the king of Iran, he took shelter in a noble man’s house for a night. He was then in a very simple dress on. The people of that house did not deal well with the poet. Rather they showed disrespect and dishonor to him. The poet left the noble man’s house in utter dismay. A few days later. he went there again with a rich dress on. This time he was duly respected and honored by the people of the noble man’s house. They gave him rich food to eat, The poet did not eat the food but he began to put the food in his pocket: Seeing it, the nobleman was astonished. He asked the poet about his mysterious behavior. Then the poet said, “This food is for my dress, but not for me. Had it been not so, I would have been treated in the same manner when I was very poorly dressed.” The nobleman was really sad about this. He begged forgiveness of the poet.

or,

Sheikh Saadi was a great poet. He used to put on a simple dress. Once he took shelter in the house of a nobleman. The nobleman could not recognize him and treated him as an ordinary man. He put on a very simple dress. The nobleman and his servants did not show much honor and hospitality to him. The poet left the house in dismay. On his way back home, he again took shelter in the same house. This time he put on a gorgeous dress. The nobleman received him cordially and entertained him with rich and delicious food. Now Saadi began to put his foods in the pockets of his dress. The nobleman and his servants were surprised to see this. They asked him the reason. Saadi replied that his dress deserved the food. The nobleman understood his fault and begged pardon to the poet.

or,

Sheikh Saddi was a great poet in Iran. He was very simple in his ways of life. He put on an easy and simple dress all the time. Once the emperor of Iran invited Sheikh Saddi to his palace. The palace was very far from the home of Sheikh Saddi. He set out for the emperor’s palace in an ordinary dress.  On the way, he took shelter in a courtier’s house. The courtier and his men did not show much respect and hospitality to him. Actually, they could not recognize him. Sheikh Saddi also did not disclose his identity. So thinking of an ordinary man, they entertained him with very simple food. Sheikh Saddi stayed in the house of the courtier for a night. In the morning he left the house of the courtier and set out for the emperor’s palace again. Once he reached the emperor’s palace.

After reaching the emperor’s palace, the emperor showed him much respect and entertained him well. Sheikh Saddi stayed in the emperor’s palace for some days. On returning home, the emperor gave some gorgeous dresses to Sheikh Saddi. Sheikh Saddi put on one of the gorgeous dresses and set out for his home. On his way back home, Sheikh Saadi again took shelter in the same courtier’s house. At that time the courtier received him cordially and entertained him with rich and delicious food. Then Sheikh Saadi began to put his food in his pockets. Seeing this, the courtier’s men were very surprised. They said to Sheikh Saddi, “Why are you putting the food in your pockets?” Saadi replied, “I’m doing the right thing. Some days ago when I came to your house in a simple dress, nobody cared for me. Now, I’m in a gorgeous dress and all of you are showing much respect to me and serving me different kinds of rich and delicious food. I think it is not me but my dress deserves this food. So, I’m putting the food in my pockets.” On hearing this, the courtier understood his fault and begged pardon to Sheikh Saadi.

Sheikh Saadi story moral: Dress doesn’t make a man great.