Saadi
Saadi
dog grateful men
Man is, beyond dispute, the most excellent of created beings, and the vilest animal is a dog; but the sages agree that a grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.
contentment wealth rich
O Contentment, make me rich! for without thee there is no wealth.
bird warning may
The bird alighteth not on the spread net when it beholds another bird in the snare. Take warning by the misfortunes of others, that others may not take example from you.
fear thinking sharks
Were the diver to think on the jaws of the shark, he would never lay hands on the precious pearl.
heart keys lovely
A lovely face is the solace of wounded hearts and the key of locked-up gates.
kings men order
Two orders of mankind are the enemies of church and state; the king without clemency, and the holy man without learning.
joy sorrow harbinger
That sorrow which is the harbinger of joy is preferable to the joy which is followed by sorrow.
friendship dog stones
A dog will never forget the crumb thou gavest him, though thou mayst afterwards throw a hundred stones at his head.
arrows hands advice
Avoid that which an enemy tells you to do; for if you follow his advice, you will smite your, knees with the hand of sorrow. If he shows you a road straight as an arrow, turn from it and go the other way.
ignorance men silence
Nothing is so good for an ignorant man as silence; and if he was sensible of this he would not be ignorant.
kindness anger people
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.
secret scandal failing
Expose not the secret failings of mankind, otherwise you must verily bring scandal upon them and distrust upon yourself.
joy sorrow passing-away
Joy and sorrow, beauty and deformity, equally pass away.
desire selfishness ease
Be not in the desire of thine own ease.