Saadi Quotes - Page 5

Shut the door of that house of pleasure which you hear resounding with the loud voice of a woman.

It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and this is the essence of good policy.

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.

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.

The wise man tells not what he knows. It is not prudent to sport with one's head by revealing the king's secrets.

The rose and thorn, the treasure and dragon, joy and sorrow, all mingle into one.

The severity of the master is more useful than the indulgence of the father.

Expose not the secret failings of mankind, otherwise you must verily bring scandal upon them and distrust upon yourself.

Two orders of mankind are the enemies of church and state; the king without clemency, and the holy man without learning.

Be generous, and pleasant-tempered, and forgiving; even as God scatter favors over thee, do thou scatter over the people.

He, who learns and makes no use of his learning, is a beast of burden, with a load of books.

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.

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?

If thou art wise, incline to truth; for truth, not the semblance, remains in its place.

That sorrow which is the harbinger of joy is preferable to the joy which is followed by sorrow.

Wherever the tree of beneficence takes root, it sends forth branches beyond the sky!

Man is, beyond dispute, the most excellent of created beings, and the vilest animal is a dog; but the sages agree that a grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.

Obedience is not truly performed by the body of him whose heart is dissatisfied. The shell without a kernel is not fit for store.

Riches are intended for the comfort of life, and not life for the purpose of hoarding riches.

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.

I have often found a small stream at its fountain-head, that, when followed up, carried away the camel with his load.

The greedy man is incontent with a whole world set before him.

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.

Fear not the proud and the haughty; fear rather him who fears God.

Now that another is suffering pain at thy hand, trust not that thy heart shall be exempt from affliction.