Like the bat, the Sufi is asleep to 'things of the day' - the familiar struggle for existence which the ordinary man finds all-important - and vigilant while others are asleep. In other words, he keeps awake the spiritual attention dormant in others. That 'mankind sleeps in a nightmare of unfulfillment' is a commonplace of Sufi literature

The sufis believe that they can experience something more complete.

Better to be safe than to be sorry' is a remark of value only when these are the actual alternatives.

A man who believes the word of a donkey in preference to my word does not deserve to be lent anything.

A certain person may have, as you say, a wonderful presence; I do not know. What I do know is that he has a perfectly delightful absence.

A generous person may not have wisdom: but, unlike others, he has the means to gain it.

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