Quotes from Idries Shah

Try always to do what you WISH, and you will often sacrifice what you CAN do.

Si siempre intentas hacer lo que QUIERES, a menudo estarás sacrificando lo que PUEDES hacer.

Quien que no ha visto el rostro de la confianza, no ha visto nada. Quien que no ha encontrado la complacencia, no ha encontrado nada.

Chi non abbia visto il volto della fiducia non ha visto nulla. Chi non abbia provato la contentezza non ha trovato nulla.

Sufism is the knowledge whereby man can realize himself and attain permanency.

Sufi says: 'The moth, if it could think, might well believe that the candle flame is desirable because it seems to represent perfection. The flame is the product of the wax, the wick and the spark which kindles. Is the human moth seeking the flame or the spark itself? Observe the moth. His destiny, to be destroyed by the flame, is visible to you and hidden to him' (Tongue of the Dumb, quoting Paiseem).

El Sufismo es el conocimiento mediante el cual el hombre puede realizarse y lograr su permanencia.

people may give lip service to an important contention, yet not be permeated with it.

Desconcertante Hermoso como una novia es el mundo. Pero ten cuidado: pues nadie podrá casarse con esta desconcertante. (Anwar-i-Suhaili)

Your magic talisman is powerful: but are you a Solomon to make it work?

It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.

Right time, right place, right people equals success. Wrong time, wrong place, wrong people equals most of the real human history.

Enlightenment must come little by little - otherwise it would overwhelm.

Man (and woman) has an infinite capacity for self-development. Equally, he has an infinite capacity for self-destruction. A human being may be clinically alive and yet, despite all appearances, spiritually dead.

Sometimes a pessimist is only an optimist with extra information.

You must empty out the dirty water before you fill the pitcher with clean.

Three Things Three things cannot be retrieved: The arrow once sped from the bow The word spoken in haste The missed opportunity. (Ali the Lion, Caliph of Islam, son-in-law of Mohammed the Prophet)

Opinion is usually something which people have when they lack comprehensive information.

You need not wonder whether you should have an unreliable person as a friend. An unreliable person is nobody's friend.

Q: What is a fundamental mistake of man's? A: To think that he is alive, when he has merely fallen asleep in life's waiting-room.

Real generosity is anonymous to the extent that a man should be prepared even to be considered ungenerous rather than explain it to others.

Knowledge is something which you can use. Belief is something which uses you.

The sufis believe that they can experience something more complete.

Have you noticed how many people who walk in the shade curse the Sun?