Chapter I: Front Matter

A grandfather is a man who has two chances to
make a fool of himself, and seldom neglects them.—_Ginglymus._

CHAPTER V. 46

An omen, said the Fakir, is a sign of the future.
Blame not the omen, but the future, if the sign prove
not true.—_Shiraz, the Younger._

CHAPTER VI. 55

The man who can invent a good working substitute
for honesty has yet to be invented himself.—_Eastern
Proverb._

CHAPTER VII. 61

Nevertheless, much depends on a man’s horoscope.
One is born in the desert, and becomes a brigand;
another is reared in the great city, and publishes books.
It is Kismet.—_Ben Haround._

CHAPTER VIII. 72

What is a cryptogram? asked the Pupil.
It is a cipher, replied the Sage.
What is a cipher? persisted the Pupil.
It is naught, answered the Sage.
Is there a cryptogram in this book? asked the Pupil.
If there be, a Sage alone will find it. It should explain
aught that may seem irrelevant.—_The Wisdom
of Shacabac._

CHAPTER IX. 88

There are times when it is inexpedient, if not actually
immoral, to kill the bediamonded clerk of a caravansary.—_Manco
Capac._

CHAPTER X. 95

Surely, thou dost not expect strangers to pay for thy
books. And, surely, thou wouldst not ask thy friends
to buy them. Seek some other way of achieving
wealth through letters. And let me know if thou
findest it.—_The Pauper Poet._

CHAPTER XI. 106

Some men borrow books; some men steal books; and
others beg presentation copies from the author.—_Ben
Haround._

CHAPTER XII. 122

In time of war begin to prepare for it.—_The Compleat
Art of Logistics, by Yang Kee._

CHAPTER XIII. 129

Every nation has just the government for which its
people are fitted; at least, that is what is said by the
rulers who are piously engaged in misgoverning it.—_Manco
Capac._

CHAPTER XIV. 136

This Book is a Mirror wherein the Wise Man seeth
Wisdom, but the Fool seeth Folly.—_Shacabac._