“
Some people are like an open grave:
You give it the thing you love most
And then get nothing in return.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (Birds Through a Ceiling of Alabaster: Three Abbasid Poets)
“
Make not, when you work a deed of shame, The scoundrel's plea, 'My forbears did the same.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī
“
The world holds two classes of men--intelligent men without religion, and religious men without
intelligence.
poet
”
”
~ Abu'l-Ala-Al-Ma'arri, 973-1057, Syrian
“
Kings are sad creatures.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī
“
Hold tight to what is most yourself,
Don't squander it, don't let your life
Be governed by what disturbs you.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (Birds Through a Ceiling of Alabaster: Three Abbasid Poets)
“
When men shake hands with time, time crushes
Them like tumblers; little pieces of glass.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (Birds Through a Ceiling of Alabaster: Three Abbasid Poets)
“
There is no imam but the mind, who guides by day and night.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (The Luzumiyat Of Abu'l-Ala: Selected From His Luzum Ma La Yalzam And Suct Uz-Zand)
“
Don't believe what you're told unless your mind
Confirms its truth: palm trunks, lofty as clouds,
Stay wood.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (Birds Through a Ceiling of Alabaster: Three Abbasid Poets)
“
Good men's actions are natural
While a scoundrel's charity
Is carefully planned to please.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (Birds Through a Ceiling of Alabaster: Three Abbasid Poets)
“
You're given the fruit of one palm tree:
Bear it a basin of clear water.
Don't trouble with the plight of other palms.
”
”
Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (Birds Through a Ceiling of Alabaster: Three Abbasid Poets)