An egocentric pessimist is a person who thinks he hasn't changed, but that other people are behaving worse than before.

... when we are talking about 'Christians' and 'Moslems' we must first make sure that we are talking about people who have an idea, which should be more or less correct, as to what the other is supposed to believe and what he is expected to do as a consequence of that belief.

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.

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

Materialism, attachment to things of the world, includes pride. Many religious people suffer from pride: taking pleasure or even delight in being good, or religious.

If you want to strengthen an enemy and make him exult - hate him.

The union of the mind and intuition which brings about illumination, and the development which the Sufis seek, is based upon love.