When thou seest thine enemy in trouble, curl not thy whiskers in contempt; for in every bone there is marrow, and within every jacket there is a man.
Whosoever formeth an intimacy with the enemies of his friends, does so to injure the latter. O wise man! wash your hands of that friend who associates with your enemies.
Forgiveness is commendable, but apply not ointment to the wound of an oppressor.
When a mean wretch cannot vie with another in virtue, out of his wickedness he begins to slander. The abject envious wretch will slander the virtuous man when absent, but when brought face to face his loquacious tongue becomes dumb.
Liberty is of more value than any gifts; and to receive gifts is to lose it. Be assured that men most commonly seek to oblige thee only that they may engage thee to serve them.
A man of virtue, judgment, and prudence speaks not until there is silence.
If thou covetest riches, ask not but for contentment, which is an immense treasure.
The sea does not contain all the pearls, the earth does not enclose all the treasures, and the flint-stone does not inclose all the diamonds, since the head of man encloses wisdom.
A grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.
I have never seen a man lost who was on a straight path.
In the faculty of speech man excels the brute; but if thou utterest what is improper, the brute is they superior.
The whelp of a wolf must prove a wolf at last, notwithstanding he may be brought up by a man.
The rich man is everywhere expected and at home.
A tree, freshly rooted, may be pulled up by one man on his own. Give it time, and it will not be moved, even with a crane
A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity until he has tasted adversity.
He who learns the rules of wisdom, without conforming to them in his life, is like a man who labored in his fields, but did not sow
Where the hand of tyranny is long we do not see the lips of men open with laughter.
Publish not men's secret faults, for by disgracing them you make yourself of no repute.
He who is intoxicated with wine will be sober again in the course of the night, but he who is intoxicated by the cupbearer will not recover his senses until the day of judgement.
O wise man, wash your hands of that friend who associates with your enemies.
The greedy man is incontent with a whole world set before him.
Two orders of mankind are the enemies of church and state; the king without clemency, and the holy man without learning.
Riches are for the comfort of life, and not life for the accumulation of riches. I asked a holy wise man, "Who is fortunate and who is unfortunate?" He replied: "He was fortunate who ate and sowed, and he was unfortunate who died without having enjoyed.
Man is, beyond dispute, the most excellent of created beings, and the vilest animal is a dog; but the sages agree that a grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.
To be over much facetious is the accomplishment of courtiers and blemish of the wise.
God preserve us! If men knew what is done in secret, no one would be free from the interference of others.
Whoever gives advice to a heedless man is himself in need of advice.
Nothing is so good for an ignorant man as silence; and if he was sensible of this he would not be ignorant.
O Contentment, make me rich! for without thee there is no wealth.
When a man appreciates only eating and sleeping, what excellence has he over the reptiles?