Dress Does Not Make a Man Great – Sheikh Saadi
How to Study
Read the Model Story that is best for you, or use the Writing Outline to write your own story.
Short Version
Once there was a great poet. His name was Sheikh Saadi. He lived a very simple life. One day, he was going to the king’s court. At night, he stayed at a rich man’s house. He wore simple clothes, so the rich man thought he was an ordinary person. He did not treat him well and gave him simple food.
On his way back, the poet stayed in the same house again. This time, he wore rich clothes. The man welcomed him warmly and gave him good food.
The poet began to put the food into his pockets. The man asked, “Why are you doing this?”
The poet replied, “This food is for my clothes, not for me.”
The rich man understood his mistake and asked for forgiveness.
Moral: Dress does not make a person great.
Expanded Version
Once there was a great poet who lived a simple life. He did not care much about expensive clothes. One day, he was travelling to the king’s court.
The journey was long, so at night he stopped at the house of a rich man and asked for a place to stay. The poet was wearing very simple clothes. The rich man looked at his dress and thought that he was only an ordinary traveller.
He did not welcome the poet warmly. He gave him a simple place to sleep and served him poor food.
The next morning, the poet continued his journey. At the king’s court, he was treated with great respect.
On his way home, he stopped again at the same rich man’s house. This time, the poet was wearing fine clothes that he had used at the court.
The rich man did not recognize him as the same simple traveller. Seeing the expensive dress, he welcomed him warmly, gave him a comfortable seat, and served him very good food.
The poet understood why the man’s behaviour had changed.
During the meal, he began putting food into the pockets and sleeves of his fine clothes.
The rich man was shocked. “Why are you doing that?” he asked.
The poet replied, “Last time, you gave me poor food because of my simple clothes. Today, you are giving good food because of these fine clothes. So the food should go to the clothes, not to me.”
The rich man understood his mistake and asked the poet to forgive him.
Moral: Dress does not make a person great.