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| On keeping good company in thought and deed Mevlana Rumi says: He that is bitter will assuredly be attached to those that are bitter: how should the vain breath (false words) be joined with the truth? O brother, you are that same thought (of yours): as for the rest, you are only bone and fibre. If your thought is a rose, you are a rose garden; and if it is a thorn, you are fuel for the bath stove. Masnevi Book 2 (276-278) May 1st 2005 |
| ...the purpose of life is to live it well. Count Leo Tolstoy 'On Life' Feb 25th 05 |
| Where is one that, born of woman, altogether can escape From the lower world within him, moods of tiger, or of ape? Tennyson December 2005 |
| The water and clay, when it fed on the breath of Jesus spread wings and pinions, became a bird and flew. Your glorification (of God) is an exhalation from the water and clay (of your body): it became a bird of paradise through the breathing (into it) of your hearts sincerity. Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi Mathnawi: book 1; line 865. September 14th 2004 |
| Good manners are indeed nothing but forbearance with everyone that is unmannerly. Masnevi Book 4 (July 2008) |
When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless' cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee - and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising,
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Sonnet 29 William Shakespeare
from 'Designs in Poetry' (Macmillan 1968)
Zahuri Web site Dec 22nd 2009.
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless' cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee - and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising,
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Sonnet 29 William Shakespeare
from 'Designs in Poetry' (Macmillan 1968)
Zahuri Web site Dec 22nd 2009.