He asked, ‘And what is juraʾah (reckless audacity)?’
He answered, ‘Keeping pace with one’s peers.’ (1)

He asked, ‘And what is kulfah (pretension)?’
He answered, ‘Your speaking about that which does not concern you.’

He asked, ‘And what is majd (true glory)?’
He answered, ‘To give when liabilities fall due and to pardon when offences occur.’

He asked, ‘And what is ʿaql (intellect)?’
He answered, ‘For the heart to safeguard everything you entrust to it.’

He asked, ‘And what is khurq (crass folly)?’ (2)
He answered, ‘Your hostility toward your leader and your raising your voice over his.’

He asked, ‘And what is sanāʾ (radiant loftiness)?’
He answered, ‘To do what is fair and to shun what is foul.’

He asked, ‘And what is ḥazm (prudence)?’
He answered, ‘Lengthy deliberation, gentleness with governors, and protecting yourself from people through wary suspicion—this is prudence.’

He asked, ‘And what is sharaf (honor)?’
He answered, ‘Accord with one’s brothers and safeguarding the neighbors.’

He asked, ‘And what is safah (foolishness)?’
He answered, ‘Following the base and keeping company with the misguided.’

He asked, ‘And what is ghaflah (heedlessness)?’
He answered, ‘Your forsaking the mosque and your obedience to the corrupter.’

He asked, ‘And what is ḥirmān (deprivation)?’
He answered, ‘Your relinquishing your share after it has been set before you.’

He asked, ‘Who then is the sayyid (true chief)?’
He answered, ‘The one careless with wealth, indulgent regarding his honour—he is reviled yet does not retaliate—and sorrowful over the affairs of his clan: such a man is the chief.’ (3)

ʿAlī then said, ‘My son, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:

“No poverty is harsher than ignorance; no wealth is superior to intellect; no loneliness is more desolate than self-admiration; no alliance (4) is more dependable than consultation; no reason equals prudent planning; no lineage equals noble character; no scrupulousness equals self-restraint; no worship equals reflection; no faith equals modesty. The summit of faith is patience. The bane of speech is lying; the bane of knowledge is forgetfulness; the bane of forbearance is foolishness; the bane of worship is listlessness (5); the bane of gracefulness is affectation; the bane of courage is aggression; the bane of generosity is reminding others of one’s favors; the bane of beauty is arrogance; the bane of pedigree (6) is vainglory.”

ʿAlī added, ‘My son, never belittle any man you encounter. If he is older than you, regard him as your father; if he is your peer, regard him as your brother; and if he is younger than you, regard him as your son.’