If you want to make an ordinary man happy, or think that he is happy, give him money, power, flattery, gifts, honours. If you want to make a wise man happy - improve yourself!
Idries ShahKnowledge is not gained, it is there all the time. It is the "veils" which have to be dissolved in the mind.
Idries ShahAn egocentric pessimist is a person who thinks he hasn't changed, but that other people are behaving worse than before.
Idries ShahMany things which are called 'secrets' are only things withheld from people until they can understand or effectively experience them.
Idries Shah