of one’s friends, turning away from the scholars, a man’s despising of himself, the arrogance of one who has no standing, and surrendering to caprice.
Wisdom: Socrates also said, “There are five who are never sated with five: the eye is never filled with looking; a woman is never content with a man; the ear is never satisfied with news; fire is never quenched by wood; and a scholar is never satiated with knowledge.”
Wisdom: A sage was asked, “What are the bitterest things in this world and what are the sweetest?” He replied, “The bitterest are hearing something pleasant from one who has no worth, a crushing debt, and the straits of poverty; the sweetest are one’s child, gracious speech, and ease of means.”
Wisdom: A sage was asked, “What is death and what is sleep?” He answered, “Sleep is light death, and death is heavy sleep.”
Wisdom: A sage was asked, “What is true wealth?” He said, “Contentment and satisfaction.” He was then asked, “And what is passionate love?” He replied, “A sickness of the soul and a lingering death in longing.”
Wisdom: Aristotle was asked, “Which friend is the most reliable, and which companion the most compassionate?” He said, “The original friend is the most reliable, the long-standing companion the most compassionate, and the counsel of the wise is best of all.”
Wisdom: Galen said, “Seven things bring about forgetfulness: listening to harsh speech that the heart does not internalize; cupping over the atlas bone; urinating into stagnant water; eating sour foods; looking upon the face of the dead; excessive sleep; and gazing at desolate places. He also said in The Book of Medicines that forgetfulness results from seven causes: an excess of phlegm; loud, boisterous laughter; eating salty food and fatty meat; excessive intercourse; staying up late while exhausted; and all cold, damp substances, for consuming them is harmful and induces forgetfulness.”
Wisdom: Abū al-Qāsim the wise said, “The trials of this world arise from three types of people: the teller of tales, the one who seeks to hear them, and the one who passes them on; and these three never escape regret.”