Quotes About Wisdom

Learning how to learn involves examining assumptions. Mulla Nasrudin tales very often fulfil this funcition.

Voice in the night A voice whispered to me last night: 'There is no such thing as a voice whispering in the night!

The Sufis are unanimous that a Guide (Sheikh) is absolutely essential, though never available on demand: 'the Sufis are not merchants'.

Learning without action is like wax without honey. (Anwar-i-Suhaili)

Do not think that your magic ring will work if you are not yourself Solomon.

The existence of relative truth does not prove the non-existence of universal truth.

When a belief becomes more than an instrument, you are lost. You remain lost until you learn what 'belief' is really for.

If you give what can be takes, you are not really giving. Take what you are given, not what you want to be given. Take what is given: Give what cannot be taken.

What is sometimes thought to be clever is, significantly often, merely an advanced form of foolishness.

Sufism, the "secret tradition," is not available on the basis of assumptions which belong to another world, the world of intellect.

Knowledge cannot be attained except through humility.

Nobody can stand between you and knowledge if you are fit for it.

If you will not reprove yourself,' Saadi says, 'you will not welcome reproof from another.

Saying of the Prophet Death Die before your death.

THE HEAVENS To the mallet of the Highest Mind The heavens are the smallest possible ball. (Akhlaq-i-Mohsini)

People think that they think things, and they also think that they know things. They could usefully give some attention to the question of whether they know what they think and know what they think they know.

Saying of the Prophet Envy Envy devours good deeds, as a fire devours fuel.

It has truly been said that 'Humility is not so much a virtue as a necessity, in order to learn.

The Book of Wisdom. Simab said: 'I shall sell the Book of Wisdom for a hundred gold pieces, and some people will say that it is cheap.' Yunus Marmar said to him: 'And I shall give away the key to understanding it, and almost none shall take it, even free of charge.

Premature independence is the daughter of conceit.

The mine is always bigger than the gem.

Saying of the Prophet Accusations Anyone reviling a brother for a sin will not himself die before committing it.

When you realise the difference between the container and the content, you will have knowledge

The secret of Sufism is that it has no secret at all'.