Luxury and presumption have intoxicated all hearts, and there is no worship but that of dignities and employments. The ambition to secure vain honors leaves no time for the labor for perfection. It is by a special dispensation of Providence that God has withdrawn learning from the provinces. The seat of power belongs to the great, but pride is the part of provincials. They would not deign to look at their fellows.
Nothing teaches the inferiority of the provinces more than the sight of Istanbul.
They who boasted so loudly of their rank and nobility are only admitted to the most commonplace circles. The arrogant, who knit his brows so disdainfully, eagerly seeks the door-keepers. He who bore a title so pompously cannot even obtain the honor of kissing the hem of a robe. He who occupied the first place is not even deemed worthy to remain at the door. After the capital, there is no place so charming as Halep.