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Quotes from Gulistan — Saadi

1210–1290 Iran

← All quotes by Saadi

14 quotes

Whatever makes an impression on the heart seems lovely in the eye.

Gulistan (1258)

Whatever is produced in haste goes easily to waste.

Gulistan (1258)

Were the diver to think on the jaws of the shark, he would never lay hands on the precious pearl.

Gulistan (1258)

In the faculty of speech man excels the brute; but if thou utterest what is improper, the brute is thy superior.

Gulistan (1258)

Whenever you argue with another wiser than yourself, in order that others may admire your wisdom, they will discover your ignorance.

Gulistan (1258)

Whoever interrupts the conversation of others to make a display of his own fund of knowledge, makes notorious his own stock of ignorance.

Gulistan (1258)

Use a sweet tongue, courtesy, and gentleness, and thou mayst manage to guide an elephant with a hair.

Gulistan (1258)

If thou covetest riches, ask not but for contentment, which is an immense treasure.

Gulistan (1258)

Who despises an insignificant enemy resembles him who is careless about fire.

Gulistan (1258)

There is a difference between him who claspeth his mistress in his arms, and him whose eyes are fixed on the door expecting her.

Gulistan (1258)

Science is for the cultivation of religion, not for worldly enjoyments.

Gulistan (1258)

Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.

Gulistan (1258)

When gnats act in concert they will bring down an elephant: when ants set to work, and move in a body, they can strip a fierce lion of its hide.

Gulistan (1258)

Deep in the sea are riches beyond compare.
But if you seek safety, it is on the shore.

Gulistan (1258)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Saadi (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.