The Blessing of Rule Limited by Law
Although absolute power may help a ruler act quickly, it is a great blessing and a remarkable happiness for a people to live under a gracious prince whose authority is limited by wise and just laws. Such a ruler respects the rights of his subjects, recognizes their legal ownership of property, and governs himself by the same laws that guide his people. He does not punish the innocent together with the guilty, nor does he oppress his subjects without reason or distinction. He does not act like a ruler given in anger, whose power is guided only by passion rather than justice .
Under such government, people enjoy safety, stability, and peace of mind. They may not rule vast territories or claim distant lands, but they possess something far more valuable: liberty, security, and dignity. To live freely within one’s own borders, or to gain modest and lawful conquests, is a far greater honor than to be slaves to the desires of a monarch whose titles may cover much of the world but whose power rests upon fear.
Obedience as a Religious Duty
In the Turkish state, obedience to the Emperor is taught not merely as a rule of government, but as a principle of religion. Absolute power in the prince requires complete submission from the subject, and great care is taken to plant this belief deeply in the minds of those educated for public service Private Sofia Tours.
From an early age, young men trained in the Seraglio and prepared for high offices are carefully taught that unquestioning obedience is their highest duty. No effort is spared in shaping their thoughts, habits, and beliefs to ensure total loyalty. This obedience is taught with even greater seriousness than the vows made by monks and religious men to their superiors.
Submission Even unto Death
One of the most striking lessons taught is that to die by the command of the Grand Signior, if the sentence is accepted with full submission, is considered the highest form of martyrdom. Such a death is believed to bring immediate entrance into Paradise. In this way, fear of punishment is transformed into a form of religious devotion.
A famous example is Kara Mustafa Pasha, a Grand Vizier who achieved great success and brought many victories to his master. Though praised as one of the most fortunate ministers of his time, he fully understood the fragile nature of his position. He openly stated that he had reached the highest honor possible in this life and lacked only one final reward: to die by the order of the Grand Signior, which he viewed as the final proof of loyalty and the completion of his earthly honors.