Christian scholars often say that Sufi theories are close to those of Christianity. Many Moslems maintain that they are essentially derived from Islam. The resemblance of many Sufi ideas to those of several religious and esoteric systems are sometimes taken as evidence of derivation. The Islamic interpretation is that religion is of one origin, differences being due to local or historical causes.

The laziness of adolescence is a rehearsal for the incapacity of old age.

Premature independence is the daughter of conceit.

You must empty out the dirty water before you fill the pitcher with clean.

Banality is like boredom: bored people are boring people, people who think that things are banal are themselves banal. Interesting people can find something interesting in all things.

A real secret is something which only one person knows.

The more wakeful a man is to the things which surround him, the more asleep is he, and his waking is worse than his sleep.