Al-Maʿarri Quotes
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Hanifs (Muslims) are stumbling, Christians all astray Jews wildered, Magians far on error’s way. We mortals are composed of two great schools Enlightened knaves or else religious fools.
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O fools, awake! The rites ye sacred hold Are but a cheat contrived by men of old Who lusted after wealth and gained their lust And died in baseness-and their law is dust.
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They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest the truth. Then perish the fools who forged the (religious) traditions or interpreted them!
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Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than men to thy charity. For their race brings not harm upon thee in any wise, when thou fearest it from thine own race.
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The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts: Those with brains, but no religion, And those with religion, but no brains.
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The world holds two classes of men; intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence.
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If you will do some deed before you die, Remember not this caravan of death, But have belief that every little breath Will stay with you for an eternity.
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A little doubt is better than total credulity.