If thou desire that thy name should remain, train thy son in knowledge and wisdom, for if he possess not these thou diest obscure, with no one to commemorate thy name.
Teach him a handicraft, though thou be as rich as Korah. Place no hope in the power that thou hast—riches may go from thee.
A bag of silver and gold is emptied; the purse of an artisan remains filled.
Dost thou not know how Sadi attained to rank? He journeyed not over the plains, nor crossed the seas. In his youth he served under the yoke of the learned: God granted him distinction in after-life. And it is not long before he who serves obtains command.
A boy who suffers not at the hands of his teacher suffers at the hands of Time.
Make thy son good and independent, so that he may not be beholden to any man.
Protect him from evil associates; and pity him not if he bring ruin and destruction upon himself, for it is better that a vicious son should die before his father.
Sadi rebuked for his Fault-finding
There was a certain young preacher who was learned and intelligent, a man of sanctity and a true worshipper. He was forcible in eloquence and correct in grammar, but his articulation was so faulty that he could not properly repeat the letters of the alphabet.
I said to a holy man: “The youth has not got his front teeth!”