Chapter Five
On the Forbearance of the Sages

Wisdom is a gift from God—exalted be His power—that He grants to whomever He wills among His servants. Socrates said: “The one upon whom God bestows wisdom, who recognizes its true worth yet, out of greed, labors for the world and heaps up riches, is like a man blessed with health and soundness who sells them for fatigue and hardship. For the fruit of wisdom is ease and honor, whereas the fruit of wealth is toil and tribulation.”

Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ said: “The kings of India possessed so many books that they were carried on elephants. They ordered their sages to abridge them. The scholars agreed and reduced the whole corpus to four maxims: the first for kings—justice; the second for subjects—obedience; the third for the self—refrain from eating until hunger is genuine; and the fourth for humankind—let a person look only to himself.”

Wisdom: One of the sages said, “People are four types. A man who knows and knows that he knows—he is a scholar, so follow him. A man who knows yet does not realize that he knows—he is forgetful, so remind him. A man who does not know and is aware that he does not know—he is seeking guidance, so guide him. And a man who does not know and does not know that he does not know—he is ignorant, so beware of him.”

[Wisdom] A sage was asked, “What is the nearest thing?” He replied, “The appointed term of death.” He was then asked, “What is the farthest?” He answered, “Hope.”