Sa di

Ch 08 On Rules For Conduct In Life - Admonition 11

It is incumbent upon a padshah to give way to anger towards his slaves only so far as to retain the confidence of his friends. The fire of anger first burns him who has given cause for it and afterwards the flame may or may not reach the foe. It is not proper for sons of Adam born of earth To inflate their heads with pride, violence and wind. Thou who displayest so much heat and obstinacy Must be, I think, not of earth but of fire. I visited a hermit in the country of Bilqan And requested him to purge me of ignorance by instruction. He replied: ‘Be patient like earth, O lawyer, Or else, bury under the earth all thy learning. ’ THE GULISTAN OF SA'DI Translated by Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)