Saadi Quotes
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No one ever sowed the grain of generosity who gathered not up the harvest of the desire of his heart.
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A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity 'til he has tasted adversity.
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Two orders of mankind are the enemies of church and state; the king without clemency, and the holy man without learning.
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Liberty is of more value than any gifts; and to receive gifts is to lose it. Be assured that men most commonly seek to oblige thee only that they may engage thee to serve them.
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A dog will never forget the crumb thou gavest him, though thou mayst afterwards throw a hundred stones at his head.
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An enemy to whom you show kindness becomes your friend, excepting lust, the indulgence of which increases its enmity.
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The best loved by God are those that are rich, yet have the humility of the poor, and those that are poor and have the magnanimity of the rich.
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The bird alighteth not on the spread net when it beholds another bird in the snare. Take warning by the misfortunes of others, that others may not take example from you.
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Whosoever formeth an intimacy with the enemies of his friends, does so to injure the latter. O wise man! wash your hands of that friend who associates with your enemies.
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Kings stand more in need of the company of the intelligent than the intelligent do of the society of kings.
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Be thou good thyself, and let people speak evil of thee; it is better than to be wicked, and that they should consider thee as good.
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However much you study, you cannot know without action. A donkey laden with books is neither an intellectual nor a wise man. Empty of essence, what learning has he whether upon him is firewood or book?
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To use the hands in making quicklime into mortar is better than to cross them on the breast in attendance on a prince.
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The world is not a courtroom There is no judge no jury no plaintiff. This is a caravan filled with eccentric beings telling wondrous stories about God.
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When you see contention amongst your enemies, go and sit at ease with your friends; but when you see them of one mind, string your bow, and place stones upon the ramparts.
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Reveal not every secret you have to a friend, for how can you tell but that friend may hereafter become and enemy. And bring not all mischief you are able to upon an enemy, for he may one day become your friend.
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Expose not the secret failings of mankind, otherwise you must verily bring scandal upon them and distrust upon yourself.
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He who learns the rules of wisdom, without conforming to them in his life, is like a man who labored in his fields, but did not sow
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I have often found a small stream at its fountain-head, that, when followed up, carried away the camel with his load.
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He who learns, and makes no use of his learning, is a beast of burden with a load of books. Does the ass comprehend whether he carries on his back a library or a bundle of faggots?
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All is going well so far. There are some remarks here and there and there are some complaints here and there but we expect to resolve those questions or complaints Sunday and the next day.
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In the faculty of speech man excels the brute; but if thou utterest what is improper, the brute is they superior.
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Whoever interrupts the conversation of others to make a display of his fund of knowledge, makes notorious his own stock of ignorance.
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No reliance can be placed on the friendship of kings, nor vain hope put in the melodious voice of boys; for that passes away like a vision, and this vanishes like a dream.