It is said that Nushirvan the Just was once hunting and they roasted some game, but there was no salt. A servant went to the village to fetch some. Nushirvan said, “Buy the salt at its price so that it does not become customary to take it for free and ruin the village.” They said, “What harm can come from this small amount?” He replied, “The foundation of oppression in the world was initially small; whoever came added to it until it reached its current extent.”
If the king eats an apple from the garden of a subject, His servants will uproot the entire tree.
If the king allows himself five eggs of oppression, His soldiers will skewer a thousand chickens.
