One of the tragedies of modern times is that people have come to believe that something said by someone in the past, perhaps for illustrative or provocation purposes, actually represents that person's beliefs at the time.

Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right effort, right time, right people, right materials.

It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.

If the path has been laid down, why the successive appearance of different teachers? Why would anyone reinvent the wheel, if everything were as cosy and sequential as primitive longing so easily convinces us?

Trying to force something is the best way to stop it happening.

But one may say something and yet not be able to do it. Try, for instance, lifting yourself up by the bootstraps.

Effort makes some great men famous. Even greater effort enables other great men to remain unknown.