Saadi Quotes
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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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If a piece of worthless stone can bruise a cup of gold, its worth is not increased, nor that of the gold diminished.
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Roam abroad in the world, and take thy fill of its enjoyments before the day shall come when thou must quit it for good.
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A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity 'til he has tasted adversity.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Kings stand more in need of the company of the intelligent than the intelligent do of the society of kings.
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When a mean wretch cannot vie with another in virtue, out of his wickedness he begins to slander. The abject envious wretch will slander the virtuous man when absent, but when brought face to face his loquacious tongue becomes dumb.
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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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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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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, when he hath the power, doeth not good, when he loses the means will suffer distress. There is not a more unfortunate wretch than the oppressor; for in the day of adversity nobody is his friend.
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Now that another is suffering pain at thy hand, trust not that thy heart shall be exempt from affliction.
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Every leaf of the tree becomes a page of the book, once the heart is opened and it has learnt to read.
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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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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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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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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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Whoever interrupts the conversation of others to make a display of his fund of knowledge, makes notorious his own stock of ignorance.