Shafi Faizi
Bio
I just found myself interested in writing, and I meet with writers every day who share their fantastic experiences and opinions. I get my motivation from writers who are creative and satisfied with their job.
Stories (14/0)
The Ardent Rake
For the court of Louis XIV, the king's last years were gloomy—he was old, and had become both insufferably religious and personally unpleasant. The court was bored and desperate for novelty. So in 1710, the arrival of a fifteen-year-old lad who was both devilishly handsome and charming had a particularly strong effect on the ladies. His name was Fronsac, the future Duke de Richelieu (his granduncle being the infamous Cardinal Richelieu). He was impudent and witty.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in Humans
Cruelty and compassion
Going further down our list of qualities, I recognize every ruler should want to be thought of as compassionate and not cruel. Nevertheless, I have to warn you to be careful about being compassionate. Cesare Borgia was thought of as cruel; but this supposed cruelty of his restored order to the Romagna, united it, rendered it peaceful and law-abiding.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in History
The Characters of Seduction
If it is seductive power you are after, the Siren is the most potent of all. She operates on a man's most basic emotions, and if she plays her role properly, she can transform a normally strong and responsible male into a child- ish slave.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in Lifehack
Ease of Making War
“No national debt shall be contracted in connection with the external affairs of the state." There is no cause for suspicion if help for the national economy is sought inside or outside the state (e.g. for improvements to roads, new settlements, storage of foodstuffs for years of famine, etc.). But a credit system, if used by the powers as an instrument of aggression against one another, shows the power of money in its most dangerous form. For while the debts thereby incurred are always secure against present demands (because not all the creditors will demand payment at the same time), these debts go on growing indefinitely.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in History
Liberty and Freedom
The struggle between Liberty and Authority is the most conspicu- ous feature in the portions of history with which we are earliest familiar, particularly in that of Greece, Rome, and England. But in old times this contest was between subjects, or some classes of subjects, and the Gov- ernment. By liberty, was meant protection against the tyranny of the political rulers.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in Humans
How can I love better?
It needs no betterment. It is perfect as it is; it is not in any way meant to be more perfect. The very desire shows a misunderstanding about love and its nature. Can you have a perfect circle? All circles are perfect; if they are not perfect, they are not circles.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in Humans
Everybody is trying to be perfect
The moment somebody starts trying to be perfect, he starts expecting everybody else to be perfect. He starts condemning people, he starts humiliating people. That’s what all your so-called saints have been doing down the ages. That’s what your religions have done to you—poisoned your being with an idea of perfection.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in Humans
Human Nature
Whenever anything goes wrong in our life, we naturally seek an explanation. To not find some cause for why our plans went awry, or why we faced sudden resistance to our ideas, would be deeply disturbing to us and intensify our pain. But in looking for a cause, our minds tend to revolve around the same types of explanations: someone or some group sabotaged me, perhaps out of dislike; large antagonistic forces out there, such as the government or social conventions, hindered me; I received bad advice, or information was kept from me. Finally if worse comes to worst, it was all bad luck and unfortunate circumstances.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in Humans
Athenian political figure
As Pericles surveyed the political scene early in his career, he noticed the following phenomenon: Every Athenian political figure believed he was rational, had realistic goals, and plans on how to get there. They all worked hard for their political factions and tried to increase their power. They led Athenian armies into battle and often came out ahead. They strove to expand the empire and bring in more money. And when their political maneuvering suddenly backfired, or the wars turned out badly, they had excellent reasons for why this had happened. They could always blame the opposition or, if need be, the gods.
By Shafi Faizi5 months ago in History
