And while one is brought up with luxury and caresses, and is thrown bewildered and despairing into a dark pit, another is lifted from the pit and raised to a throne where a jeweled crown is placed on his head. The world has no shame in doing this; it is prompt to hand out both pleasure and pain and has no need of us an our doings.

Rostam: Tales of Love and War from the Shahnameh (ed. Penguin, 2009) - ISBN: 9781101145036