Quotations by Saadi

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Anger that has no limit causes terror, and unseasonable kindness does away with respect. Be not so severe as to cause disgust, nor so lenient as to make people presume.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 117

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Reason is captive in the hands of the passions, as a weak man in the hands of an artful woman.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 14

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Be thou generous, and gentle, and forgiving; as God hath scattered upon thee, scatter thou upon others.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 140

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Purpose without power is mere weakness and deception; and power without purpose is mere fatuity.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 146

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

When thou utterest not a word thou hast laid thy hand upon it; when thou hast uttered it, it hath laid its hand on thee.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 180

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Two persons die remorseful: he who possessed and enjoyed not, and he who knew but did not practise.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 220

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

If thou art a man, speak not much about thine own manliness, for not every champion driveth the ball to the goal.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 248

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Were all thy fond endeavours vain To chase away the sufferer's smart, Still hover near, lest absence pain His lonely heart. For friendship's tones have kindlier power Than odorous fruit, or nectared bowl, To soothe, in sorrow's languid hour, The sinking soul.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 346

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Dost thou desire that thine own heart should not suffer, redeem thou the sufferer from the bonds of misery.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 4

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Affairs succeed by patience, and he that is hasty falleth headlong.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 42

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Hast thou not perfect excellence, 'tis best To keep thy tongue in silence, for 'tis this Which shames a man; as lightness does attest The nut is empty, nor of value is.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 444

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Though you may yourself abound in treasure, teach your son some handicraft; for a heavy purse of gold and silver may run to waste, but the purse of the artisan's industry can never get empty.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 451

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Heed not the flatterer's fulsome talk, He from thee hopes some trifle to obtain; Thou wilt, shouldst thou his wishes baulk, Ten hundred times as much of censure gain.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 459

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Wickedness, by whomsoever committed, is odious, but most of all in men of learning; for learning is the weapon with which Satan is combated, and when a man is made captive with arms in his hand his shame is more excessive.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 469

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Eschew that friend, if thou art wise, who consorts with thy enemies.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 544

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Whosoever hath not knowledge, and benevolence, and piety knoweth nothing of reality, and dwelleth only in semblance.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 546

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

The sage who engages in controversy with ignorant people must not expect to be treated with honour; and if a fool should overpower a philosopher by his loquacity it is not to be wondered at, for a common stone will break a jewel.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 584

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

If thy garments be clean and thy heart be foul, thou needest no key to the door of hell.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 62

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

When a base fellow cannot vie with another in merit he will attack him with malicious slander.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 69

Wording recorded in the collection; original language not established.

Let thy words between two foes be such that if they were to become friends thou shouldst not be ashamed.

Saadi · Book of Wise Sayings · 1893 · n. 84