Saadi Quotes

Saadi shares gentle wisdom about humanity, patience, and the linked dance of joy and sorrow.

27 quotes

1. Whatever is produced in haste goes easily to waste.

2. Another famous poem focuses on the oneness of mankind, and is used to grace the entrance to the Hall of Nations of the UN building in New York with this call for breaking all barriers: [1][2]

3. Saadi on love:

4. I never lamented about the vicissitudes of time or complained of the

5. The Gulistan, translated by Sir Edwin Arnold.

6. A little and a little, collected together, becomes a great deal; the heap in the barn consists of single grains, and drop and drop make the inundation.

7. Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.

8. He who is a slave to his stomach seldom worships God.

9. I fear God and next to God I mostly fear them that fear Him not.

10. 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.

11. To give pleasure to a single heart by a single kind act is better than a thousand head-bowings in prayer.

12. The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together.

13. When the belly is empty, the body becomes spirit; and when it is full, the spirit becomes body.

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

15. Every leaf of the tree becomes a page of the sacred scripture once the soul has learnt to read.

16. 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.

17. If thou art of elephant-strength or of lion-claw, still peace is, in my opinion, better than strife.

18. Astride a horse I am not, nor camel-like carry a load, Subjects I have none, nor follow any sultan's code; I worry not for what exists, nor fret for what is lost, I breathe with extreme ease, and live at very little cost.

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

20. When the ruler is obedient to God, God is his protector and friend.

21. Riches are for the comfort of life, and not life for the accumulation of riches. I asked a holy wise man, "Who is fortunate and who is unfortunate?" He replied: "He was fortunate who ate and sowed, and he was unfortunate who died without having enjoyed.

22. Where the hand of tyranny is long we do not see the lips of men open with laughter.

23. All human beings are limbs of the same body. God created them from the same essence. If one part of the body suffers pain, then the whole body is affected. If you are indifferent to this pain, you cannot be called a human being.

24. Roam abroad in the world, and take thy fill of its enjoyments before the day shall come when thou must quit it for good.

25. 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.

26. A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity 'til he has tasted adversity.

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