One night when we were working together Professor Shahriyārī was informed that his child was in the hospital and that his situation was grave. I accompanied him to the hospital. The situation was such that I was moved by it. But I could see that while Majīd saw to the administrative work of the hospital, there was an unusual calm in his countenance. This had posed a question in my mind. After the crisis was over I asked him how he was able to maintain his poise in such a crisis. He smiled and said, “If you expect anything other than these kinds of things in life, you are mistaken. This is what life is like. It is all a test of hardship and toil. It has its high points too, of course: it is not as if it is all anguish and sorrow; but when they come, one must suffer them [with equanimity].”