...Of the general character and accomplishments of the
ministers of the Persian Court, Sir J. Malcolm, in his History, wrote as
follows in the early years of the century: ‘The Ministers and chief officers of
the Court are almost always men of polished manners, well skilled in the
business of their respective departments, of pleasant conversation, subdued
temper, and very acute observation; but these agreeable and useful qualities
are, in general, all that they possess. Nor is virtue or liberal knowledge to
be expected in men whose lives are wasted in attending to forms; whose means of
subsistence are derived from the most corrupt sources; whose occupation is in
intrigues which have always the same objects: to preserve themselves or ruin
others; who cannot, without danger, speak any language but that of flattery and
deceit; and who are, in short, condemned by their condition to be venal,
artful, and false. There have, no doubt, been many ministers of Persia whom it
would be injustice to class under this general description; but even the most
distinguished for their virtues and talents have been forced in some degree to
accommodate their principles to their station; and, unless where the confidence
of their sovereign has placed them beyond the fear of rivals, necessity has
compelled them to practise a subserviency and dissimulation at variance with
the truth and integrity which can alone constitute a claim to the respect all
are disposed to grant to good and great men.’ These observations are marked by
the insight and justice characteristic of their distinguished author, and it is
to be feared that to a large extent they hold as good of the present as of the
old generation.
- Lord Curzon (Extract from “Persia and the Persian Question”,
quoted by Shoghi Effendi in the Introduction to the Dawn-Breakers)
