Anecdote

when Imam Ali (as) was in charge of the affairs of the vast Islamic country, he said to Qanbar: we two need shirts, because they have become old and they are not suitable to be worn. So, they both headed toward the store so as to buy some clothes for themselves, Imam Ali (AS) bought two shirts; one shirt two dirham and the second one about three dirham, Imam Ali (AS) gave the more expensive shirt to Qanbar and said: wear this shirt, Qanbar said: O Ali! You are in charge of the presidency of the whole country and you deserve to wear the more expensive shirt. Imam Ali (AS) said: O Qanbar! I am getting and but you are still young, so I deserve the cheaper shirt and you deserve the more expensive one.

Islamic Mysticism, V 13