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.

Have you noticed how many people who walk in the shade curse the Sun?

You need not wonder whether you should have an unreliable person as a friend. An unreliable person is nobody's friend.

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

If you can turn a murderer into a mere thief, you are making progress.

There is a Persian proverb: 'To test that which has been tested is ignorance.' To try to test something without the means of testing is even worse.

A real secret is something which only one person knows.