Sa di

Ch 08 On Rules For Conduct In Life - Maxim 34

When a sage comes in contact with fools, he must not expect to be honoured, and if an ignorant man overcomes a sage in an oratorical contest, it is no wonder, because even a stone breaks a jewel. What wonder is there that the song Of a nightingale ceases when imprisoned with a crow Or that a virtuous man under the tyranny of vagabonds Feels affliction in his heart and is irate. Although a base stone may break a golden vase, The price of the stone is not enhanced nor of the gold lost. THE GULISTAN OF SA'DI Translated by Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)