“Undeniably, while being among other people of nations different to yours, you will encoun-
ter aspects dissimilar to those you have been familiar with, or what you will see when you
come back.
Our customs and morals differ from those of others, and theirs differ from ours. And I do not
say that our customs and morals are better than those of others, and that the customs and
morals of others are all not good. On the contrary, what I am trying to say is that you should
try to take the good and leave what is not, as the Poet once said:
Nations live as long as their morals do.
When virtues die, nations do.
We wish you all the best, and more of knowledge and education with which you serve your
country with honesty and fidelity when you come back, and you should commit yourselves
to serving this country, free from any self-interests and being the best successors to the best
predecessors.”
An excerpt from a speech by
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said
to a group of students studying abroad in 1970
3