Saadi

The children of Adam are limbs of one another, formed in creation from a single essence.

When one limb is afflicted with pain, the other limbs cannot rest easy.

You who feel no sorrow for others' suffering do not deserve to be called human.

However much knowledge you gain, without putting it into practice you remain ignorant.

Wealth found in contentment is better than wealth found in possessions.

Whoever sits with the wicked will be judged by their ways, even if untouched by their nature.

I heard of a king who gave a sign to have a captive put to death.

A beneficial lie is better than a mischief-making truth.

Whoever the king heeds should be ashamed to speak anything but good.

The world, brother, stays true to no one — bind your heart only to the Creator of the world.

When the pure soul sets out to depart, it is the same to die on a throne or on the bare earth.

Many a renowned one lies buried beneath the earth, leaving no trace of their existence upon it.

The blessed name of Nushirvan still lives on in goodness, though long since he himself has passed away.

Do good, my friend, and treasure your life, before the cry goes up that you are no more.

Whoever you see wearing the garb of piety, take them for pious and good — unless you know their inner secret.

I see no fault in his outward appearance, and I know nothing hidden of his heart.

Sinners repent of their sins, but the truly wise seek forgiveness even for their worship.

At the Ka'ba's gate I saw a beggar weeping sweetly as he spoke his prayer.

I do not ask that my devotion be accepted — only draw the pen of pardon over my sin.

O Contentment! Make me rich — for beyond you there is no blessing at all.

The corner of patience was Luqman's chosen refuge — whoever lacks patience lacks wisdom.

If you had fairness and we had contentment, the custom of begging would vanish from the world.

It is better that an enemy see no good in you at all.

To the eye of enmity, virtue looks like the greatest fault — Saadi is a rose, yet to his enemies' eyes a thorn.

The world-lighting radiance of the sun's own source looks ugly to the eye of a blind bat.

Whatever settles into the heart appears beautiful to the eye.

If one looks with the eye of denial, even the face of Joseph will seem flawed.

Whoever the king favors — even their every wrong is counted as good.

Skill is an ever-flowing spring, and an everlasting fortune.

Wherever the skilled go, they find honor and take the seat of pride; the unskilled scrape for scraps and meet hardship.

It is hard, after losing rank, to bear command from others — used to comfort, now to bear the world's harshness.

The learned sons of villagers rose to become the king's ministers.

Both the poor and the rich are servants of this earth — and those who are richer are in fact more needy.

With a strong arm and a powerful hand, it is wrong to break the fingers of the poor and weak.

Whoever sows the seed of evil while hoping for good has cooked up folly and woven an empty dream.

When the door is shut, how can anyone tell a jeweler from a peddler?

Though silence is courtesy before the wise, when the moment calls, it is better to speak.

Two things mark the failure of reason: falling silent when it is time to speak, and speaking when it is time for silence.

O wise one, what is the tongue in the mouth? The key to the door of a treasure of skill.

First comes thought, then speech — the foundation is laid before the wall.

Saadi is one who has humbly fallen — no one comes to fight the fallen.

Whoever raises their neck in boastful claim brings the burden down upon their own neck.

Luqman was asked, from whom did you learn wisdom? He said, from the blind, who never set foot until they know the ground.

Behold the grace and kindness of the Lord: the servant commits the sin, yet He is the one ashamed.

The excellence of my companion left its mark on me — otherwise I am but the same clay I always was.

One day in the bathhouse, a piece of fragrant clay came from my beloved's hand to mine.

With every moment a breath of life departs; when I look closely, little of it remains.

You whose fifty years have passed while still asleep — will you at least seize these last five days?

Ashamed is the one who departed without preparing — the drum of departure sounded, and they had packed nothing.

Everyone who came built a new dwelling, then departed, leaving the house to another.

Do not befriend an unfaithful companion — this treacherous world is not fit for true friendship.

Since good and bad alike must die, happy is the one who carried off the prize of goodness.

Send provisions ahead to your own grave — no one brings anything after death, so send it before.

Life is snow under the summer sun — little remains, yet the master still boasts in pride.

Whoever eats their crop while it is still green will have to glean single stalks at harvest time.

One silent and tongueless in a corner is better than someone whose tongue is not under their own command.

To hurt one's friends is folly, though the penance for a broken oath is easy.

What use is a tray of flowers to you? Take instead a single page from my Golestan.

A rose lasts only five or six days, but this Rose Garden stays lovely forever.

The generous one, when they make a promise, keeps it.

Cloud and wind and moon and sun and sky all labor, so that you may earn your bread — do not eat it in heedlessness.

All things wander and obey for your sake — it is not fair that you alone should not obey.

Thanks be to God, the mighty and glorious, whose obedience draws us near to Him.

From whose hand and tongue could ever come the gratitude His due deserves?