Sources of Information and Experience
Dear Reader,
In the course of my residence and service, I gained not only access but also a level of familiarity that appeared as friendship. Through this trust, I was able to receive accurate information about the Seraglio, the education of youth, and many other matters concerning custom, law, and government.
These accounts were not gathered from careless rumor or idle talk. They were shared with me by several sober and well-informed persons who had been trained in the best traditions of Turkish learning. Among them was a particularly knowledgeable man from Poland, who had spent nineteen years within the Ottoman court. From such sources, I was able to form a clearer and more reliable understanding of the inner workings of that empire Sightseeing Tour Sofia.
Reflections on the Mahometan Religion
If, reader, the superstition, vanity, and weak foundations of the Mahometan religion appear to you like a dream, or the invention of a troubled and misguided mind, then give thanks to God that you were born a Christian. Be thankful also that you live within the bounds of a holy and orthodox Church, where faith is supported by reason and long tradition.
This comparison is not made to mock others, but to remind you of the value of what you have received. Many are born into beliefs they never chose, and it is wisdom to reflect upon the fortune of one’s own condition.
On Government, Liberty, and Power
If the tyranny, oppression, and cruelty of that state seem strange and shocking to your sense of freedom—where reason has little weight against the pride and desire of unchecked ministers—then again give thanks. You are born in a country that is among the most free and just in the world, and you are a subject of one of the most gracious and merciful princes known.
In such a land, a man may truly call his wife, his children, and the fruits of his labor his own. They are protected by law and defended by the strong arm of a fortunate and valiant king. This security allows people to live without constant fear and to enjoy the rewards of honest work.
A Call to Gratitude and Contentment
Learn, therefore, to value and protect your own freedom by comparing it with the servitude of foreign nations. Let this understanding lead you to bless God and honor your king. May your happiness bring you contentment, without falling into carelessness, pride, or a desire for rebellion.