A young camel said to its mother: “After thou hast made a journey, rest awhile.”
“If the bridle were in my hands,” was the reply, “no one would ever see me in the string of camels with a load upon my back.”
Fate is the helmsman of the ship of life, no matter though the owner rend his clothes.
O Sadi! look not for aid from any man. God is the giver, and He alone. If thou worship Him, the door of His mercy sufficeth thee; if He drive thee away, no one will ease thee. If He make thee to wear a crown, raise thy head; if not, bow thy head in despair.
Discourse concerning Hypocrisy
Who knows that thou art not pledged to God even though thou standest in prayer without ablution?
That prayer is the key to hell which thou performest only before the eyes of men.
If the high-road of thy life lead to aught but God, thy prayer-mat will be thrown into the fire.
He whose heart is good and makes no outward show of piety is better than one of outward sanctity whose heart is false.