Corruption knows no religion or nationality. Self-interest and greed are the true homeland of the corrupt. When someone with a tendency to be greedy or has an inferiority complex is appointed to a leading position due to their luck, they start exploiting this newfound power to accumulate wealth at any cost, even if it means spying on their own country. To illustrate this, the following story highlights a real-life example of a Russian senior official and his role in the downfall of his nation: After the dramatic collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the U.S. Intelligence Department honored its Russian agent, who had held the position of Minister of Civil Service. Upon learning of the news, a Russian intelligence officer confronted the Civil Service Minister, saying, “I was assigned to monitor you, yet I never found any direct connection between you and the U.S. Intelligence Department. Why are you being honored when there are no records of communication or correspondence?” The agent-spy minister replied, “My mission was simple: appoint every graduate in the wrong institution, promote the unqualified individuals through media manipulation, and block the promotion of qualified officials under the pretext that they lacked the required qualifications. I carried out my task until senior positions in the government were filled by the elderly and unqualified employees. As a result, the Soviet Union faced intellectual bankruptcy and eventually collapsed, simply because important roles were entrusted to unqualified individuals.”

Man and the greedy desire for a long life
Since the beginning of time, mankind has constantly sought to acquire everything. The following metaphorical story, drawn from an ancient text, highlights man’s greed, even if it leads to misery: A dog was told, “You will guard people’s homes, be man’s best friend, eat the leftovers they offer you, and live for 30 years”. The dog replied, “30 years is too much. I only want 15 years”. And so, it got what it wanted. A monkey was told, “You will swing from branch to branch, amuse people with your tricks, and live for 20 years”. The monkey responded, “20 years is too much. I only want ten years”. And so, it got what it wanted. A donkey was told, “You will work tirelessly without complaint, carrying heavy loads from sunrise to sunset.

Barley will be your food, and you will never enjoy the honor. You will live for 50 years”. The donkey replied, “I will accept being a donkey, but 50 years is too much. I only want 20 years”. And so, it got what it wanted. As for man, he was told, “You are the most intelligent creature on earth. You will use your intelligence to dominate the rest of the creatures. You will live a fulfilling life, inhabit the earth, and live for 20 years.” The man said, “To be human and live only 20 years? That’s too short! I want the 30 years the donkey didn’t want, the 15 years the dog abandoned, and the 10 years the monkey declined!” And so, he got what he wanted.

Since then, a man spends the first 20 years of his life as a human, full of energy and potential, until he gets married. After that, he spends 30 years like a donkey, working tirelessly from sunrise to sunset, and carrying heavy loads on his back. When his children grow up, the man spends the next 15 years like a dog, guarding the house, ensuring the doors are locked, turning off the lights, and eating the smallest portions, often leftovers from his children. Finally, in his old age when he retires, he lives for ten years like a monkey, hopping from one child’s house to another, telling funny stories, and performing tricks to make his grandchildren laugh