their lives without a second thought?” He replied, “Three things are dearer than the soul itself: religion, reason, and deliverance from dire straits.”

He was also asked, “In what lie the hallmarks of knowledge, generosity, and courage?” He said, “The adornment of knowledge is truthfulness; the adornment of generosity is a cheerful countenance; and the adornment of courage is to pardon when one has the power to retaliate.”

Wisdom: Yunan the vizier said, “Four matters count among the greatest afflictions: numerous dependents, scant means, a neighbor who mistreats his neighbor, and a wife devoid of piety and dignity.”

All people agree that the deeds of created beings fall into twenty-five categories.
• Five occur by divine decree and predestination: seeking a wife, children, wealth, sovereignty, and life itself.
• Five are gained through effort and striving: knowledge, writing, horsemanship, entry into Paradise, and salvation from the Fire.
• Five spring from innate disposition: loyalty, tact, humility, and generosity.
• Five arise from habit: walking along the road, eating, sleeping, sexual intercourse, and answering the call of nature.
• Five are inherited: beauty, a pleasant character, lofty ambition, arrogance, and baseness.

Wisdom: Six things equal the whole world in worth: agreeable food; a child sound of limb; a congenial companion; a compassionate ruler; speech that is correct and well ordered; and a complete intellect.

Wisdom: The sage said, “Five things are wasted: a lamp in broad daylight; rain falling on salty wasteland; a beautiful woman before a blind man; fine food set before one who is already full; and the word of Allah lodged in the breast of an oppressor.”

Wisdom: Alexander was once asked, “Why do you honor your teacher above your father?” He replied, “My father gave me temporal life, whereas my teacher is the cause of my eternal life.”