Discover a wealth of wisdom and insight from Idries Shah through their most impactful and thought-provoking quotes and sayings. Expand your perspective with their inspiring words and share these beautiful Idries Shah quote pictures with your friends and followers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or your personal blog - all free of charge. We've compiled the top 558 Idries Shah quotes for you to explore and share with others.

In the modern world we are in a paradoxical situation; because although in theory man knows that he can extend his attention to something and then remove it, he very often does not do so. In many areas he does not look at something and then detach from it, and look at something else.Once he has found something to interest himself in, he cannot detach himself from it efficiently, and therefore he cannot be objective. Note that, in most if not all languages, we have words like 'objectivity' which leads people to imagine that they have it, or can easily use it. That is equivalent (in reality if not in theory) to saying 'I know the word "gold", so I am rich. By Idries Shah Situation Modern World Paradoxical Man

Few things are more absurd than wise saws originally designed to inculcate or maintain the social needs of a society long past - when they are applied to today. By Idries Shah Past Today Things Absurd Wise

SENTENCES OF THE KHAJAGANGURGANI: The teacher and the taught together produce the teaching. By Idries Shah Sentences Khajagangurgani Teaching Teacher Taught

SENTENCES OF THE KHAJAGANRUDBARI : Heart to heart is an essential means of passing on the secrets of the Path. By Idries Shah Sentences Khajaganrudbari Path Heart Essential

Saying of the ProphetStruggleThe holy warrior is he who struggles with himself. By Idries Shah Prophetstrugglethe Holy Warrior Struggles

Saying of the ProphetTruthSpeaking the truth to the unjust is the best of holy wars. By Idries Shah Wars Prophettruthspeaking Truth Unjust Holy

People used to play with toys.Now the toys play with them. By Idries Shah Play People Toysnow Toys

Salute to the Thief. Junaid of Baghdad was passing the scene of a public hanging, where a thief was on the scaffold. Junaid bowed towards the criminal. Someone asked him: 'What did you do that?' Junaid said: 'I was bowing before his single-mindedness. For his aim, that man has given his life. By Idries Shah Thief Junaid Salute Baghdad Hanging

It is no accident that Sufis find that they can connect most constructively with people who are well integrated into the world, as well as having higher aims, and that those who adopt a sensible attitude towards society and life as generally known can usually absorb Sufi teachings very well indeed By Idries Shah World Aims Sufis Sufi Accident

THE BIRD AND THE WATERA bird which has not heard of fresh waterDips his beak in salt-water year after year.(Anwar-i-Suhaili) By Idries Shah Bird Watera Year Heard Fresh

People who speak or act in an ordinary fashion are most likely to be those who have been the recipients of higher experiences. But because they do not rage around, wild-eyed, people think that they are very ordinary folk and therefore not aware of anything unknown to the general run of man. By Idries Shah People Experiences Ordinary Speak Act

The worst of sages is a visitor of princes; the best of princes is a visitor of sages. By Idries Shah Visitor Sages Princes Worst

From a personal experience and the examination of literature, I feel that we cannot take for granted that a dialogue, without information and perhaps without understanding, is possible between any individuals or groups on all levels. So the prerequisite is information. By Idries Shah Literature Dialogue Understanding Levels Information

Right time, right place, right people equals success.Wrong time, wrong place, wrong people equals most of the real human history. By Idries Shah Time Place Wrong People Equals

The bird which has no knowledge of pure water, has his beak in salt water all year round. By Idries Shah Round Water Bird Knowledge Pure

Beggars and Workers IT IS RELATED of Ibn el-Arabi that people said to him: 'Your circle is composed mainly of beggars, husbandmen and artisans. Can you not find people of intellect who will follow you, so that perhaps more authoritative notice might be taken of your teachings?' He said: 'The Day of Calamity will be infinitely By Idries Shah Workers Related Ibn Beggars Husbandmen

Neither imagine that you are false, nor lash yourself, for both may be forms of self-indulgence. By Idries Shah False Selfindulgence Imagine Lash Forms

Two people can illustrate crudity to you.The first is the crude man, whom you see perceiving the diamond as a stone.The other is the refined man, who makes clear to you the crudity of the first one. By Idries Shah Man Crudity People Illustrate Youthe

Study the assumptions behind your actions. Then study the assumptions behind your assumptions. By Idries Shah Assumptions Actions Study

If your desire for 'good' is based on greed, it is not good, but greed. By Idries Shah Good Greed Desire Based

To say "yes" to the Sufi way is to say "no" to imagined escapes. By Idries Shah Sufi Escapes Imagined

You must empty out the dirty water before you fill the pitcher with clean. By Idries Shah Clean Empty Dirty Water Fill

Exercise power by means of kindness, and you may be causing more damage than you could by cruelty. Neither approach is correct. By Idries Shah Exercise Kindness Cruelty Power Causing

Make mankind your dwelling place. By Idries Shah Make Place Mankind Dwelling

To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot. By Idries Shah Sufi Preconceptions Lot Detach Fixed

The automatism of man is overcome, in the words of Dhun'Nun, by aiming for 'being as you were, where you were, before you were'. By Idries Shah Overcome Dhunnun Automatism Man Words

People who cannot trust are themselves not trustworthy, and therefore cannot be entrusted with important things. By Idries Shah People Trustworthy Things Trust Entrusted

The skilled artisan uses the same iron to make a horseshoeAs he does for a polished mirror for the King. By Idries Shah King Skilled Artisan Iron Make

Sandals. The Sufi teacher Ghulam-Shah was asked what pattern he used in formulating his courses for disciples. He said: 'Barefoot until you can get sandals, sandals until you can manage boots. By Idries Shah Sandals Sufi Barefoot Disciples Boots

And there are many people, both Moslem and Christian, who have a good grasp of each others0 conceptions of surrender to God an other principles. But the widespread existence of bias, misinformation and lack of knowledge ( ... ) militate against the effectiveness of dialogue, ( ... ) by the most subtle and one of the most effective of instruments, the subconscious, almost the subliminal, introduction of hostility. By Idries Shah Christian Moslem God People Conceptions

Saying of the ProphetDistributionGod it is who gives: I am only a distributor. By Idries Shah Distributor Prophetdistributiongod

Helping othersI order you to assist any oppressed person, whether he is a Moslem or not. By Idries Shah Moslem Helping Person Othersi Order

Saying of the ProphetLoveDo you think you love your Creator? Love your fellow-creature first. By Idries Shah Creator Love Prophetlovedo Fellowcreature

Day and NightThe night is long: do not shorten it by sleep. The day is fair: do not darken it with wrongdoing. By Idries Shah Long Sleep Day Nightthe Night

Saying of the ProphetUnderstandingSpeak to everyone in accordance with his degree of understanding. By Idries Shah Understanding Prophetunderstandingspeak Accordance Degree

Saying of the ProphetFoodNobody has eaten better food than that won by his own labour. By Idries Shah Labour Prophetfoodnobody Eaten Food Won

Saying of the ProphetTHE PEOPLEIt is the people who are God's family.(Muhammad the Prophet) By Idries Shah Muhammad Prophet God Family Prophetthe

Saying of the ProphetHumilityHumility and courtesy are themselves a part of piety. By Idries Shah Piety Prophethumilityhumility Courtesy Part

Saying of the ProphetMonkishnessNo monkery in Islam. By Idries Shah Islam Prophetmonkishnessno Monkery

Saying of the ProphetSleepSleep is the brother of death. By Idries Shah Death Prophetsleepsleep Brother

Saying of the ProphetEnvyEnvy devours good deeds, as a fire devours fuel. By Idries Shah Deeds Fuel Devours Prophetenvyenvy Good

Saying of the ProphetThe TongueA man slips with his tongue more than with his feet. By Idries Shah Feet Prophetthe Tonguea Man Slips

Now that I have found thee, I know that in the first step I took, I moved away from thee. By Idries Shah Thee Found Step Moved

Sufis aim to refine human consciousness. This is Sufi mysticism: not mystification or magic, but a specific Path. By Idries Shah Consciousness Path Aim Refine Human

If you give what can be takes, you are not really giving.Take what you are given, not what you want to be given.Take what is given:Give what cannot be taken. By Idries Shah Give Givingtake Giventake

The would-be students wish to transcend books.But, ask yourselves: if someone says that books do not contain wisdom, and yet he writes books; books do not contain Sufism, and yet he continues to publish books on Sufism, what is really happening? It really is your duty, and not mine, to ask and to find the answer to that question, if you are interested enough. By Idries Shah Sufism Books Booksbut Wisdom Happening

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! By Idries Shah Happy Power Flattery Gifts Honours

The process of learning is the process of discovering what really exists. By Idries Shah Process Exists Learning Discovering

Correct teaching brings out human excellence. By Idries Shah Correct Excellence Teaching Brings Human

The word 'choice' is a fraud while people choose only what they have been taught to choose. By Idries Shah Choice Word Choose Fraud People

The institution of teachership is there for this reason, that the learner must learn how to learn. By Idries Shah Reason Learn Institution Teachership Learner

Patience is a garment which has never worn out. By Idries Shah Patience Garment Worn

When prayer, rituals and ascetic life are just a means of self-indulgence, they are harmful rather than beneficial. This is quite obvious to people nowadays, when it is widely recognised that fixations are not the same as valuable and laudable observances. One should not pray if that prayer is vanity; rituals are wrong when they provide lower satisfactions, like emotional stimulus instead of enlightenment; he or she should not be an ascetic who is only enjoying it. By Idries Shah Selfindulgence Beneficial Rituals Life Harmful

The Book of Wisdom. Simab said: 'I shall sell the Book of Wisdom for a hundred gold pieces, and some people will say that it is cheap.' Yunus Marmar said to him: 'And I shall give away the key to understanding it, and almost none shall take it, even free of charge. By Idries Shah Book Wisdom Marmar Simab Pieces

The lightning said to the oak tree: 'Stand aside, or take what is coming to you! By Idries Shah Stand Tree Lightning Oak Coming

Most of the supposedly Sufi organizations, exercises and "orders" are in fact only of archaeological interest. By Idries Shah Orders Sufi Organizations Exercises Interest

The main problem is that most commentators are accustomed to thinking of spiritual schools as 'systems', which are more or less alike, and which depend upon dogma and ritual: and especially upon repetition and the application of continual and standardised pressures upon their followers.The Sufi way, except in degenerate forms which are not to be classified as Sufic, is entirely different from this. By Idries Shah Sufic Systems Sufi Alike Ritual

Why do people always wonder whether books are any good, without wondering whether they are themselves in a state to profit from them? By Idries Shah Good People Books Wondering State

A man must be a Salomon before his magical ring will work By Idries Shah Salomon Work Man Magical Ring

You have not forgotten to remember;You have remembered to forget.But people can forget to forget. That is just as important as remembering to remember - and generally more practical. By Idries Shah Remember Forget Forgotten Remembered Forgetbut

To bind one free man with love is better than to release a thousand slaves. By Idries Shah Slaves Bind Free Man Love

I have heard all that you have had to say to me on your problems.You ask me what to do about them.It is my view that your real problem is that you are a member of the human race.Face that one first. By Idries Shah Heard Problemsyou Themit View Real

We view Sufism not as an ideology that molds people to the right way of belief or action, but as an art or science that can exert a beneficial influence on individuals and societies, in accordance with the needs of those individuals and societies ... Sufi study and development gives one capacities one did not have before. By Idries Shah Societies Individuals Sufism Action View

When people have a hard task to do - one which stretches them - they become less concerned with trivial matters. By Idries Shah Matters People Hard Task Stretches

Anyone can see that an ass laden with books remains a donkey. A human being laden with the undigested results of a tussle with thoughts and books, however, still passes for wise. By Idries Shah Donkey Laden Books Ass Remains

The stupidest man I ever met had a favourite saying. It was: 'What do you think I am, stupid, or something? By Idries Shah Stupid Stupidest Man Met Favourite

A man is deficient in understanding until he perceives that there is a whole cycle of evolution possible within himself: repeating endlessly, offering opportunities for personal development. By Idries Shah Repeating Endlessly Offering Development Man

Be a dog, but don't be a younger brother.Proverb. By Idries Shah Dog Brotherproverb Younger

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. By Idries Shah Presence Person Wonderful Absence Perfectly

first pious man, who said: 'Did you encounter my disciples and help them?' Khidr answered: By Idries Shah Man Pious Encounter Disciples Khidr

You call me an unbeliever. I shall therefore call you a True Believer since a lie is best met with one of similar magnitude. By Idries Shah Unbeliever Call True Believer Magnitude

The tongue is the best masseur of furrowed brows. By Idries Shah Brows Tongue Masseur Furrowed

The Hole and the Thread A CERTAIN great Sufi was asked about the role and status of some of his predecessors. He said: 'To erect a small building you may first have to excavate a large hole. 'To make a large carpet you may have to start with a single thread. 'When you can see the building or the carpet, your question is answered. 'But when your question is about the hole in the ground and the thread in the hand, you can only be answered in this parable.' * * * By Idries Shah Sufi Hole Thread Predecessors Great

among roses, be a rose, among thorns, be a thorn By Idries Shah Roses Rose Thorns Thorn

People in this civilization are starving in the middle of plenty. This is a civilization that is going down, not because it hasn't got the knowledge that would save it, but because nobody will use the knowledge. By Idries Shah People Plenty Civilization Starving Middle

Deep in the sea are riches beyond compare. But if you seek safety, it is on the shore. By Idries Shah Deep Compare Sea Riches Safety

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaWisdom: Something you can learn without knowing it. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazawisdom Learn Knowing

If you are uninterested in what I say, there's an end to it. If you like what I say, please try to understand which previous influences have made you like it. If you like some of the things I say, and dislike others, you could try to understand why. If you dislike all I say, why not try to find out what formed your attitude? By Idries Shah Uninterested End Understand Dislike Previous

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. By Idries Shah Sleep Wakeful Man Things Surround

ANDAKI: EFFORT IS NOT EFFORT WITHOUT ZAMAN, MAKAN, IKHWAN (RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT PEOPLE). By Idries Shah Andaki Makan Ikhwan Effort Zaman

One cannot learn from someone whom one distrusts. By Idries Shah Distrusts Learn

Sufi Teachers are not, as you might hope, people who make you feel peace and harmony. By Idries Shah Teachers Sufi Hope People Harmony

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaA fool: A man trying to be honest with the dishonest. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Fool Dishonest Dopiazaa

Whoever might perfume a scorpionWill not thereby escape its sting. Bahaudin Naqshband By Idries Shah Sting Naqshband Perfume Scorpionwill Escape

The major barrier to understanding is wishful thinking and following that which pleases one. By Idries Shah Major Barrier Understanding Wishful Thinking

FIVE KINDS OF FOLLY The Sages have said that five things are signs of foolishness: First, seeking one's own good while harming others; Second, looking for the yield of the last days without discipline and service; Third, loving women harshly and brashly; Fourth, seeking to learn the refinements of science in comfort and ease; Fifth, expecting friendship without oneself being reliable and trustworthy. (Anwar-i-Suhaili) By Idries Shah Fourth Seeking Kinds Folly Sages

The important place held by Jesus among the world's six hundred million Moslems ... and the agreement of both religions about the necessity for surrender to God as the means of salvation, thus makes it comparatively easy for a Moslem to address himself to Christians: the sympathy and the history are already there. By Idries Shah Christians Jesus God Moslems Moslem

Saying of the ProphetObligation to LearnThe pursuit of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim. By Idries Shah Muslim Prophetobligation Learnthe Pursuit Knowledge

The problem is that the spurious, the unreal, the untrue is so much easier to find that it is in danger of becoming the norm. By Idries Shah Spurious Unreal Norm Problem Untrue

The Seeking of the Master. Musa Najib was asked why he charged a fee from those who came to his sessions; and why he often did not even address his audience. He said: 'I charge for this object lesson: people believe that knowledge must be given freely, and consequently mistake everything which is free for knowledge. I do not always lecture because, among Sufis, "The Master finds the pupil." The pupil has to be physically present: but he may be absent in every other sense. When I discern that a pupil is "present" then I "find" him, for then his inner call is audible to me, even if it is silent to him.' 'Seek and you will be found. By Idries Shah Seeking Master Pupil Najib Present

Learning how to learn involves examining assumptions. Mulla Nasrudin tales very often fulfil this funcition. By Idries Shah Learning Assumptions Learn Involves Examining

To be obsessed by the idea of freedom, for instance, is itself a form of slavery. Such people are in the chains of the hope of freedom, and are therefore able to do little else than struggle with them. By Idries Shah Freedom Instance Slavery Obsessed Idea

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaSupporter: Someone who will say anything. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazasupporter

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaAdherent:Someone who will believe anything except what he should. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazaadherent

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaIntellectual: One who knows no craft. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazaintellectual Craft

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaBribe Substitute for law, which is a substitute for justice. By Idries Shah Substitute Mulla Definitions Law Justice

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaFlattery:One of the most promising of businesses: always brisk. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazaflattery Businesses Brisk

Definitions from Mulla Do-Piaza. Worry: Something to make you unnecessarily ill. By Idries Shah Mulla Worry Definitions Dopiaza Ill

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaCommunity: Irrationals unified by hope of the impossible. By Idries Shah Irrationals Mulla Definitions Dopiazacommunity Impossible

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaTruthful man:He who is, secretly, regarded by everyone as an enemy. By Idries Shah Secretly Mulla Definitions Man Regarded

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaPatience: A support for the disappointed. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazapatience Disappointed Support

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaPenitent: Someone who has been made incapable of enjoying himself. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazapenitent Made Incapable

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaPoverty: The result of marriage. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazapoverty Marriage Result

Saying of the Mulla Nasrudin. If I survive this life without dying, I'll be surprised. By Idries Shah Nasrudin Mulla Dying Surprised Survive

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaEmotionalist:A man or woman who thinks he has experienced the divine. By Idries Shah Mulla Definitions Dopiazaemotionalist Divine Man

Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaDrugs: Source of the mystical experience of the ignorant. By Idries Shah Source Mulla Definitions Dopiazadrugs Ignorant

Ignorance is the Mother of Opposition By Idries Shah Opposition Mother Ignorance

They say: 'Seek wisdom while you have the strength, or you may lose the strength without gaining wisdom. By Idries Shah Seek Strength Wisdom Lose Gaining

One day the cub will become a wolf, even if it has been reared among the sons of man. By Idries Shah Wolf Man Day Cub Reared

I longed to teach, but I had to wait until the desire had left me before I could really do so. By Idries Shah Teach Longed Wait Desire Left

Ibn El-Arabi wrote, 'The Teacher is he who hears you, then unveils you to yourself By Idries Shah Teacher Ibn Wrote Elarabi Hears

Please, not again what you studied, how long you spent at it, how many books you wrote, what people thought of you - but: what did you learn? By Idries Shah Studied Wrote Learn Long Spent

The sort of man who, throwing a stone upon the ground, would miss. By Idries Shah Throwing Ground Miss Sort Man

Sufi service has to be the right kind of service; neither servitude nor hypocrisy. By Idries Shah Sufi Hypocrisy Service Kind Servitude

To copy a virtue in another is more copying than it is virtue. Try to learn what that virtue is based upon. By Idries Shah Virtue Copy Copying Learn Based

Be kind to the hawk and harm the sparrow. By Idries Shah Sparrow Kind Hawk Harm

He who is fortunately enlightened [the Sufi]Knows that sophistry is from the devil and love from Adam. By Idries Shah Sufi Adam Enlightened Fortunately Sophistry

Each flies with its own kind: pigeon with pigeon, hawk with hawk. By Idries Shah Kind Pigeon Hawk Flies

You will always have doubts, but only discover them at a useful time for your weakness to point them out. By Idries Shah Doubts Discover Time Weakness Point

No practice exists in isolation. By Idries Shah Isolation Practice Exists

An old fool is worse than a young one: For the young may always grow wise. (Zohair) By Idries Shah Zohair Wise Young Fool Worse

The would-be Sufi needs guidance precisely because books, texts, while telling you what is needed, do not tell you when. By Idries Shah Texts Sufi Books Needed Wouldbe

A Sufi is one who is not bound by anything nor does he bind anything By Idries Shah Sufi Bound Bind

I ask about the sky, but the answer is about a rope. By Idries Shah Sky Rope Answer

The door of illumination is open to those for whom other doors are closed. By Idries Shah Closed Illumination Open Door Doors

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 By Idries Shah Asleep Sufi Bat Things Day

Many Sufis are not guides. By Idries Shah Sufis Guides

The selection and following of a spiritual guide is the most important duty of a Sufi. By Idries Shah Sufi Selection Spiritual Guide Important

Do not try to be humble: learn humility. By Idries Shah Humble Learn Humility

The totality of life cannot be understood, so runs Sufi teaching, if it is studied only through the methods which we use in everyday living. By Idries Shah Sufi Understood Teaching Living Totality

The Sufi must be able to alternate his thought between the relative and the Absolute, the approximate and the Real. By Idries Shah Absolute Real Sufi Alternate Thought

It is necessary to note," says Rumi, "that opposite things work together, even though nominally opposed" (Fihi Ma Fihi). By Idries Shah Rumi Fihi Note Opposed Opposite

Not to be greedy is, paradoxically, the highest form of looking after one's true interests. By Idries Shah Paradoxically Interests Greedy Highest Form

Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right effort, right time, right people, right materials. By Idries Shah Work Prescribing Soft Hardy Nonsense

The aspirant has to be guided by a mentor. The stage at which this guidance can take effect is seldom, if ever, perceptible to the learner. By Idries Shah Mentor Aspirant Guided Seldom Perceptible

Show a man too many camels' bones,or show them to him too often,and he will not be able to recognize a camel when he comes across a live one. By Idries Shah Show Man Camels Bonesor Oftenand

He that is purified by love is pure; and he that is absorbed in the Beloved and hath abandoned all else is a Sufi.Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah. By Idries Shah Shah Beloved Ikbal Ali Pure

If you seek a teacher, try to become a real student. If you want to be a student, try to find a real teacher. By Idries Shah Teacher Student Real Seek Find

The person that you feel yourself to be, according to the Sufis, is a false person, which has no true reality. By Idries Shah Sufis Reality Person Feel False

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. By Idries Shah Persian Proverb Ignorance Test Tested

The sufis believe that they can experience something more complete. By Idries Shah Complete Sufis Experience

The human being, whether he realises it or not, is trusting someone or something every moment of the day. By Idries Shah Day Human Realises Trusting Moment

The impatient man is his own enemy; he slams the door on his own progress. By Idries Shah Enemy Progress Impatient Man Slams

Have the nature of a dervish: then wear a stylish cap. By Idries Shah Dervish Cap Nature Wear Stylish

I asked a child, walking with a candle, 'From where comes that light?' Instantly he blew it out. 'Tell me where it is gone - then I will tell you where it came from.' (Hasan of Basra) By Idries Shah Child Walking Candle Light Asked

Three ThingsThree things cannot be retrieved:The arrow once sped from the bowThe word spoken in hasteThe missed opportunity.(Ali the Lion, Caliph of Islam, son-in-law of Mohammed the Prophet), By Idries Shah Ali Lion Caliph Islam Prophet

... 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. By Idries Shah Talking Christians Moslems Idea Correct

These lecture provide material for the consideration of common factors, in theory and in development, from the viewpoint of the idea of surrender to the Divine Will, reviewing some aspects of the interplay between Christians and Moslems, and introducing material from and about Sufis. By Idries Shah Moslems Sufis Material Divine Christians

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. By Idries Shah Christianity Sufi Christian Scholars Theories

Rumi himself once said that counterfeit gold is only to be found because there is such a thing as real gold to be copied. By Idries Shah Rumi Copied Gold Counterfeit Found

Humility is a teacher of itself. It is learnt by means of its practise. By Idries Shah Humility Teacher Practise Learnt

Water shrinks wool, urgency shrinks time.Shrinkage may be an advantage or the reverse, according to expectation. By Idries Shah Water Wool Urgency Reverse Expectation

How many friends would you have if you went from one to another asking them to conceal a dead body? By Idries Shah Body Friends Conceal Dead

Saying of the ProphetAngerYou ask for a piece of advice. I tell you: 'Do not get angry.' He is strong who can withhold anger. By Idries Shah Advice Prophetangeryou Piece Angry Anger

EPITAPH OF JALALUDIN RUMIWhen we are dead, seek not our tomb in the earth, but find it in the hearts of men. By Idries Shah Epitaph Jalaludin Dead Seek Earth

Scholars of the East and West have heroically consecrated their whole working lives to making available, by means of their own disciplines, Sufi literary and philosophical material to the world at large. In many cases they have faithfully recorded the Sufis' own reiteration that the Way of the Sufis cannot be understood by means of the intellect or by ordinary book learning. By Idries Shah East West Scholars Disciplines Large

You can learn more in half an hour's direct contact with a source of knowledge (no matter the apparent reason for the contact or the subject of the transaction) than you can in years of formal effort. By Idries Shah Contact Knowledge Transaction Effort Learn

Opinion is usually something which people have when they lack comprehensive information. By Idries Shah Opinion Information People Lack Comprehensive

Mediation - Before you learn how to meditate, you must unlearn what you think meditation might be. By Idries Shah Mediation Meditate Learn Unlearn Meditation

Study institutions may become visible when the head is more emptied of imaginings. By Idries Shah Study Imaginings Institutions Visible Head

Many people who are in reality dead are walking in the streets; many who are in their graves are in reality alive. By Idries Shah Reality Streets Alive People Dead

When you are still fragmentated, lacking certainty - what difference does it make what your decisions are? By Idries Shah Fragmentated Lacking Certainty Difference Make

It is not only a matter of not caring who knows - it is also a matter of knowing who cares. By Idries Shah Matter Cares Caring Knowing

What you are seeking in your retreat, I see clearly in every road and alleyway. By Idries Shah Retreat Alleyway Seeking Road

If you are covetous, you are a prisoner: If you are greedy, you will never be filled. By Idries Shah Covetous Prisoner Greedy Filled

Saying of the ProphetAccusationsAnyone reviling a brother for a sin will not himself die before committing it. By Idries Shah Prophetaccusationsanyone Reviling Brother Sin Die

Saying of the ProphetThe JudgeA man appointed to be a judge has been killed without a knife. By Idries Shah Knife Prophetthe Judgea Man Appointed

Teaching:One hour's teaching is better than a whole night of prayer.Saying of the Prophet By Idries Shah Prophet Teaching Hour Night Prayersaying

Saying of the ProphetReflectionThe Faithful are mirrors, one to the other. By Idries Shah Faithful Mirrors Prophetreflectionthe

Saying of the ProphetObjectsIt is your attachment to objects which make you blind and deaf. By Idries Shah Deaf Prophetobjectsit Attachment Objects Make

Saying of the Prophet.Lies, promises, trustHe is not of mine who lies, breaks a promise or fails in his trust. By Idries Shah Prophetlies Trusthe Lies Breaks Trust

Saying of the ProphetTasksWhoever makes all his tasks one task, God will help him in his other concerns. By Idries Shah God Concerns Prophettaskswhoever Makes Tasks

Saying of the ProphetOppressionWhen oppression exists, even the bird dies in its nest. By Idries Shah Exists Nest Prophetoppressionwhen Oppression Bird

Saying of the ProphetWomenWomen are the twin-halves of men. By Idries Shah Men Prophetwomenwomen Twinhalves

Saying of the ProphetDeathDie before your death. By Idries Shah Death Prophetdeathdie

Saying of the ProphetPracticeWho are the learned? Those who put into practice what they know. By Idries Shah Learned Prophetpracticewho Put Practice

Saying of the ProphetSome behaviourI am like a man who has lighted a fire, and all the creeping things have rushed to burn themselves in it. By Idries Shah Fire Prophetsome Behaviouri Man Lighted

Saying of the ProphetDesireDesire not the world, and God will love you. Desire not what others have, and they will love you. By Idries Shah God Love World Prophetdesiredesire Desire

Anybody or anything may stand between you and knowledge if you are unfit for it. By Idries Shah Stand Knowledge Unfit

From the beginning, from the age of Adam to the time of kingship: from the powerful, pardon: from the poor, sins. By Idries Shah Pardon Sins Adam Beginning Kingship

The spirit is the mirror; the body is the rust.(Divan-i-Shamsi Tabriz) By Idries Shah Tabriz Mirror Rust Spirit Body

A stolen kiss is not easily returned. By Idries Shah Returned Stolen Kiss Easily

Those who say 'I am ready to learn', or 'I am not ready to learn' are as often mistaken as they are correct in their surmise. By Idries Shah Learn Ready Surmise Mistaken Correct

The union of the mind and intuition which brings about illumination, and the development which the Sufis seek, is based upon love. By Idries Shah Sufis Illumination Seek Love Union

Sufism is experiential. Capacities, even those for learning beyond a certain point, are provoked by Sufis, by one's own efforts and what results from them, and by an element of what is referred to by Sufis as the Divine. By Idries Shah Sufis Sufism Experiential Divine Capacities

A loan is the scissors of friendship.A man's own tongue may cut his throat.The cage has no value without the bird. By Idries Shah Bird Loan Scissors Friendshipa Man

Treat this world as I do, like a wayfarer; like a horseman who stops in the shade of a tree for a time, and then moves on. By Idries Shah Treat Wayfarer Time World Horseman

You must improve yourself on a higher level if you are to be able to help people, and not just weep over them. By Idries Shah People Improve Higher Level Weep

Saying of the ProphetHelping othersI order you to assist any oppressed person, whether he is a Muslim or not. By Idries Shah Muslim Person Prophethelping Othersi Order

Before garden, vine or grape was in the world," writes one, "our soul was drunken with immortal wine. By Idries Shah Garden Vine World Writes Wine

Has it not occurred to you that, conversely, other people do not have your difficulties because they do not react as you do to what happens? By Idries Shah Conversely Occurred People Difficulties React

The great poet Hafiz says that you should dye your prayer-carpet with wine if your teacher tells you to do so. By Idries Shah Hafiz Great Poet Dye Prayercarpet

But the minimum human duty is to serve others: it is no great attainment. By Idries Shah Attainment Minimum Human Duty Serve

When you observe that today's controversies often reveal not relevance but the clash of the untaught with the wrongly taught, and when you can endure this knowledge without cynicism, as a lover of humankind, greater compensations will be open to you than a sense of your own importance or satisfaction in thinking about the unreliability of others. By Idries Shah Taught Cynicism Humankind Greater Observe

Most systems end up by making imagined humility into a form of vanity, so they end up with vanity just the same. By Idries Shah End Vanity Systems Making Imagined

The significance of the dwelling is in the dweller. By Idries Shah Dweller Significance Dwelling

There is something in man which can detect real love. We rub it out, or muffle it, by substitute-love. By Idries Shah Love Man Detect Real Substitutelove

Poor greedy one, wherever he runs He's after food, and death is after him.(Saadi) By Idries Shah Saadi Poor Food Him Greedy

Q: What is a fundamental mistake of man's?A: To think that he is alive, when he has merely fallen asleep in life's waiting-room. By Idries Shah Man Alive Waitingroom Fundamental Mistake

Feeling important is a vice, not a virtue, however concealed as participation in something noble. By Idries Shah Feeling Vice Virtue Noble Important

Whoever has not first dug a well, should not steal a minaret. By Idries Shah Minaret Dug Steal

You can perceive a person's aspiration if it is genuine, because this creates a change in the emanations from such a person. By Idries Shah Person Genuine Perceive Aspiration Creates

People change and needs change. So what was Sufism once is Sufism no more. By Idries Shah People Change Sufism

There can be no spirituality, according to the Sufi masters, without psychology, psychological insight and sociological balance. By Idries Shah Sufi Spirituality Masters Psychology Psychological

That which is capable of perceiving objective reality is, in Sufism, the human soul (ruh). By Idries Shah Ruh Sufism Soul Capable Perceiving

A short time in the presence of the Friends (the Sufis) is better than a hundred years' sincere, obedient dedication. By Idries Shah Friends Sufis Sincere Obedient Dedication

Continuously, in commemoration of the FriendWe drank wine, even before the creation of the vine. By Idries Shah Continuously Wine Vine Commemoration Friendwe

You can keep going on much less attention than you crave. By Idries Shah Crave Attention

To 'see both sides' of a problem is the surest way to prevent its complete solution. Because there are always more than two sides. By Idries Shah Solution Sides Problem Surest Prevent

If you want to be a calligrapher, write, and write, and write. By Idries Shah Write Calligrapher

Dramatic. A well developed sense of the dramatic has values beyond what people usually imagine. One of these is to realise the limitations of a sense of the dramatic. By Idries Shah Dramatic Sense Imagine Developed People

They asked Abboud of Omdurman: 'Which is better, to be young or to be old?' He said: 'To be old is to have less time before you and more mistakes behind. I leave you to decide whether this is better than the reverse. By Idries Shah Omdurman Abboud Asked Young Time

The power of Allah: no sound, no shape, no form. But when it manifests, none can resist it. By Idries Shah Allah Sound Shape Form Power

The liar has a bad memory. By Idries Shah Memory Liar Bad

The Sufi saying has it: God, to the bee, is something which has TWO stings! By Idries Shah God Sufi Bee Stings

Opportunity's precious, and time is a sword. By Idries Shah Opportunity Precious Sword Time

Denial and affirmation are games which people play.There are people who deny that they are capable of denying, and who would insist that people do not insist. By Idries Shah People Denial Denying Insist Affirmation

You need not wonder whether you should have an unreliable person as a friend. An unreliable person is nobody's friend. By Idries Shah Unreliable Friend Person

Worry is a cloud which rains destruction. By Idries Shah Worry Destruction Cloud Rains

Conviction, far from being based upon reason, is the enemy of reason; because rationality does not change, while convictions do, all the time. By Idries Shah Reason Change Time Based Enemy

The answer to a fool is silence. (Proverb) By Idries Shah Proverb Silence Answer Fool

The proverb says that 'The answer to a fool is silence'. Observation, however, indicates that almost any other answer will have the same effect in the long run. By Idries Shah Silence Answer Proverb Fool Observation

If a Manx cat tells you that it is trying to preserve its long, beautiful tail, you don't have to believe it - especially if you have eyes. By Idries Shah Manx Long Beautiful Tail Eyes

If you can turn a murderer into a mere thief, you are making progress. By Idries Shah Thief Progress Turn Murderer Mere

Premature independence is the daughter of conceit. By Idries Shah Premature Conceit Independence Daughter

You will never reach Mecca, because you are on the road to Samarkand By Idries Shah Mecca Samarkand Reach Road

When Fortune knocks, open the door,' they say. But why should one make fortune knock, by keeping the door shut? By Idries Shah Fortune Open Knocks Knock Door

The king said, 'What wisdom have you gained from this event?' The scholar replied: 'I now understand that if anyone were to remain perceptive to the real condition of men all the time, he would go mad.' The dervish told him: 'Now you know that the dervish lore includes the knowledge of when to be awake and when to remain asleep. By Idries Shah Event King Wisdom Gained Remain

No effort makes a black crow into a white hawk. By Idries Shah Hawk Effort Makes Black Crow

Even if false gold makes a man happy:At the mint it will be identified. By Idries Shah Happy Identified False Gold Makes

The fruit of timidity is neither gain nor loss. By Idries Shah Loss Fruit Timidity Gain

Patience is bitter, but bears a sweet fruit. By Idries Shah Patience Bitter Fruit Bears Sweet

Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you? By Idries Shah Teach Honesty

A generous person may not have wisdom: but, unlike others, he has the means to gain it. By Idries Shah Wisdom Unlike Generous Person Gain

A yellow dog is brother to the jackal. By Idries Shah Jackal Yellow Dog Brother

An egocentric pessimist is a person who thinks he hasn't changed, but that other people are behaving worse than before. By Idries Shah Changed Egocentric Pessimist Person People

They have fixed our nutrition and arranged our life-span. More than this, and ahead of this, efforts will not be productive. By Idries Shah Lifespan Fixed Nutrition Arranged Efforts

Sufism is transmitted by means of the human exemplar, the teacher. By Idries Shah Sufism Exemplar Teacher Transmitted Human

History is not usually what has happened. History is what some people have thought to be significant. By Idries Shah History Happened Significant People Thought

A real secret is something which only one person knows. By Idries Shah Real Secret Person

The real generosity is when a man does something generous when nobody knows about it. By Idries Shah Real Generosity Man Generous

Laziness is always your fault. It is the sign that a man has persevered in uselessness for too long. By Idries Shah Laziness Fault Long Sign Man

HE is a Master who may teach without it being totally labelled teaching; HE is a student who can learn without being obsessed by learning. By Idries Shah Master Teaching Learning Teach Totally

It is axiomatic that the attempt to become a Sufi through a desire for personal power as normally understood will not succeed. By Idries Shah Sufi Succeed Axiomatic Attempt Desire

Great men are great until they know it. Saints are holy until they know it. By Idries Shah Great Men Saints Holy

For every Pharoah there is a Moses. By Idries Shah Moses Pharoah

Learn to be as analytical about things of which you are credulous as you are of those which you criticise. By Idries Shah Learn Criticise Analytical Things Credulous

Man (as he imagines himself to be), in general, is a possibility, not a fact. By Idries Shah Man General Possibility Fact Imagines

In the realm of Greater Understanding, the workshop is dismantled after the work is finished. By Idries Shah Understanding Greater Finished Realm Workshop

Do not dwell upon whether you will put yourself into the hands of a teacher. You are always in his hands. By Idries Shah Teacher Hands Dwell Put

The teaching must, of course, work with the best part of the individual, must be directed to his or her real capacity. By Idries Shah Work Individual Capacity Teaching Part

Sufism is known by means of itself. By Idries Shah Sufism

The Path is not to be found anywhere except in human service By Idries Shah Path Service Found Human

Debating whether one trusts or not is a sign that one does not want to trust at all, and therefore is still incapable of it. By Idries Shah Debating Sign Incapable Trusts Trust

When you feel least interested in following the Way which you have entered, this may be the time when it is most appropriate for you. By Idries Shah Entered Feel Interested Time

The object of Sufi preparatory study, however, being to illustrate, expose and out-manoeuvre superficial ambition. By Idries Shah Sufi Study Illustrate Expose Ambition

The clothes may vary, but the person is the same. By Idries Shah Vary Clothes Person

Remember the proverb: 'A sign is enough for the alert, but a thousand counsels are not enough for the negligent. By Idries Shah Remember Proverb Alert Negligent Sign

None meets harm who knows his capacity. By Idries Shah Capacity Meets Harm

Sufis hold that the superior experience and knowledge comes to a man or woman in exact accordance with his worth,capacity,and earning of it. By Idries Shah Sufis Earning Hold Superior Experience

It is not always a question of the Emperor having no clothes on. Sometimes it is, 'Is that an Emperor at all? By Idries Shah Emperor Question Clothes

If you cannot laugh frequently and genuinely, you have no soul. By Idries Shah Genuinely Soul Laugh Frequently

If you have two shirts, sell one and with the money buy a flower'. By Idries Shah Shirts Sell Flower Money Buy

The happiness of the superficial: when a man who has lost his donkey finds it again. By Idries Shah Superficial Happiness Man Lost Donkey

Enemies are often former or potential friends who have been denied - or think that they have been denied - something. By Idries Shah Denied Enemies Potential Friends

In a village where everyone has only one leg, the biped will hop about more lamely than anyone else, if he knows what is good for him. By Idries Shah Leg Village Biped Hop Lamely

Principles and inelastic rules are the last bastion of the primitive. Principles are guides which substitute for knowledge; rules are drawn up to guide those who do not know.Primitive man has stayed with us for aeons, sustained by the pessimistic belief that, since knowledge is impossible, substitutes must always be employed instead. By Idries Shah Principles Primitive Rules Inelastic Bastion

People cannot handle prejudice because they try to deal with the symptom. Prejudice is the symptom, wrong assumptions are the cause.'Prejudice is the daughter of assumption. By Idries Shah Symptom Prejudice People Handle Deal

To send a kiss by messenger. By Idries Shah Messenger Send Kiss

The Sufis are unanimous that a Guide (Sheikh) is absolutely essential, though never available on demand: 'the Sufis are not merchants'. By Idries Shah Sheikh Sufis Guide Essential Demand

Ali, Son of the Father of the SeekerAli said: 'None may arrive at the Truth until he is able to think that the Path itself may be wrong. This is because those who can only believe that it must be right are not believers, but people who are incapable of thinking otherwise than they already think. Such people are not men at all. Like animals they must follow certain beliefs, and during this time they cannot learn. Because they cannot be called "humanity", they cannot arrive at the Truth. By Idries Shah Son Father Path Ali Truth

Do not think that your magic ring will work if you are not yourself Solomon. By Idries Shah Solomon Magic Ring Work

THE HEAVENSTo the mallet of the Highest MindThe heavens are the smallest possible ball.(Akhlaq-i-Mohsini) By Idries Shah Highest Ball Heavensto Mallet Mindthe

It is a Sufi contention that truth is not discovered or maintained by the mere repetition of teachings. It can only be kept understood by the perpetual experience of it. And it is in the experience of truth that the Sufis have always reposed their trust. Sufism is therefore not 'Do as I say and not as I do', or even 'Do as I do', but 'Experience it and you will know'. By Idries Shah Experience Teachings Contention Discovered Maintained

All forms are limited. Some of the limitations are time, place, culture, language. By Idries Shah Limited Place Culture Language Forms

Certain levels of human understanding cannot be attained, it is claimed, until the brain can work in more than one way. By Idries Shah Attained Claimed Levels Human Understanding

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. By Idries Shah Materialism Pride Attachment World Includes

Take the straight path, even if it is long: marry no widow, even if she is a houri. By Idries Shah Path Long Marry Widow Houri

The Sufis have said: 'The importance of something is in inverse proportion to its attractiveness. By Idries Shah Sufis Attractiveness Importance Inverse Proportion

A Better Beard that Yours. 'All true devotees wear a beard,' said the Imam to his audience. 'Show me a thick and lustrous beard and I'll show you a true believer!' 'My goat has a beard far bushier and longer than yours,' replied Nasrudin. 'Does that mean he is a better Muslim than you? By Idries Shah Beard Show Imam True Nasrudin

Have you noticed how many people who walk in the shade curse the Sun? By Idries Shah Sun Noticed People Walk Shade

Self-mortification, far from producing liberation from material things, is far more likely to cause either an unhinged mind, delusions or a masochistic taste for more suffering, experienced, of course, as joy. By Idries Shah Selfmortification Experienced Things Mind Delusions

Because sugar is not arsenic, many graves are full. By Idries Shah Arsenic Full Sugar Graves

Understanding and knowledge are completely different sensations in the realm of Truth than they are in the realm of society. By Idries Shah Realm Truth Understanding Society Knowledge

Is your division of Understanding into Greater and Lesser common to all Sufis? Nothing which is put into words is common to all Sufis. By Idries Shah Sufis Understanding Greater Lesser Common

Man (and woman) has an infinite capacity for self-development. Equally, he has an infinite capacity for self-destruction. A human being may be clinically alive and yet, despite all appearances, spiritually dead. By Idries Shah Man Infinite Capacity Woman Selfdevelopment

One of the great Sufis said: 'A saint is a saint unless he knows that he is one. By Idries Shah Sufis Saint Great

Trust is needed before lessons can be learnt. By Idries Shah Trust Learnt Needed Lessons

When you get a principle on which everyone is agreed, you get the beginning of complacency and deterioration. By Idries Shah Agreed Deterioration Principle Beginning Complacency

Knowledge is not gained, it is there all the time. It is the "veils" which have to be dissolved in the mind. By Idries Shah Knowledge Gained Time Veils Mind

You may be able to get the bone down your throat But if it reaches your stomach it will tear your navel.(Gulistan) By Idries Shah Gulistan Navel Bone Throat Reaches

A man who believes the word of a donkey in preference to my word does not deserve to be lent anything. By Idries Shah Word Man Donkey Preference Deserve

Man has less than he suspects of: Time, Friends, Hopes, Qualities.Proverb By Idries Shah Time Friends Hopes Qualitiesproverb Man

No colour comes after black. By Idries Shah Black Colour

If wine is the enemy of religion, I shall devour the enemy of religion. By Idries Shah Religion Enemy Wine Devour

Words, they say, are the food of minds. But, like other foods, they can do little by themselves. By Idries Shah Words Minds Food Foods

Hazrat Ali, in a saying attributed to him, says: 'Man is in disguise, covered by his tongue'. By Idries Shah Ali Man Hazrat Disguise Covered

Well-meant techniques such as arbitrary self-mortification, are useless. By Idries Shah Wellmeant Selfmortification Useless Techniques Arbitrary

People carry on whole conversations in proverbs. But they are not LIVING the proverbs. By Idries Shah Proverbs People Carry Conversations Living

It will pass, whatever it is. By Idries Shah Pass

There is no wisdom where there is no common sense: it cannot under those conditions find any expression. By Idries Shah Sense Expression Wisdom Common Conditions

Sufism," according to the Sufi, "is an adventure in living, necessary adventure. By Idries Shah Sufism Sufi Living Adventure

It is as true as anything else which can be spoken to say that all knowledge is really available everywhere. By Idries Shah True Spoken Knowledge

ScrapsThe scraps from the meal of the Emir are larger than the gifts of halwa from the merchant. Timur Fazil By Idries Shah Emir Scrapsthe Merchant Scraps Meal

What you are pleased to call Sufism is merely the record of past method. By Idries Shah Sufism Method Pleased Call Record

A book, for the Sufis, is an instrument as much as it is something to give information. By Idries Shah Sufis Book Information Instrument Give

Rust through washing never became white. By Idries Shah Rust White Washing

One should not pray if that prayer is vanity. By Idries Shah Vanity Pray Prayer

Only the search for truth is valid, the desire for wisdom the motive. The method is assimilation, not study. By Idries Shah Valid Motive Search Truth Desire

Whatever goes into a salt-mine becomes salt. By Idries Shah Salt Saltmine

Inner Knowledge You want to become wise in one lesson: First become a real human being. By Idries Shah Knowledge Lesson Wise Real Human

Whoever gives knowledge to a fool loses itAnd who keeps it from the deserving does wrong. By Idries Shah Wrong Knowledge Fool Loses Itand

Nothing can defile the Sufi, and he in fact purifies everything." Abu-Turab al-Nakhsabi. By Idries Shah Sufi Defile Fact Purifies Abuturab

A donkey eats a melon, it remains a donkey By Idries Shah Donkey Melon Eats Remains

Virtually all organisations known to you work largely by means of your greed. By Idries Shah Virtually Greed Organisations Work Largely

Proverbs and truisms are for this reason dangerous, because they produce blindness or non-thought. By Idries Shah Proverbs Dangerous Nonthought Truisms Reason

He discards a quilt for fear of bugs. By Idries Shah Bugs Discards Quilt Fear

Sufism is the doing in this lifetime what any fool will be doing in then thousand years' time. By Idries Shah Sufism Time Lifetime Fool Thousand

You make me a sinner if you stop me giving you hospitality. By Idries Shah Hospitality Make Sinner Stop Giving

And Rumi tells us, 'Soul receives from soul that knowledge, therefore not by book nor from tongue'. By Idries Shah Soul Rumi Knowledge Tongue Receives

The practice of the Sufis is too sublime to have a formal beginning, By Idries Shah Sufis Beginning Practice Sublime Formal

One lie will keep out forty truths. By Idries Shah Truths Lie Forty

Our objective is to achieve, by the understanding of the Origin, the Knowledge which comes through experience. By Idries Shah Origin Knowledge Achieve Experience Objective

The function of a nutrient is to become transmuted, not to leave unaltered traces. By Idries Shah Transmuted Traces Function Nutrient Leave

The degree of necessity determines the development of organs in man ... therefore increase your necessity. By Idries Shah Man Necessity Degree Determines Development

Man thinks many things. He thinks he is One. He is usually several. Until he becomes One, he cannot have a fair idea of what he is at all. By Idries Shah Man Things Fair Idea

The people of the world have a fixed destiny. But the spiritually developed receive what is "not" in their destiny. By Idries Shah Destiny People World Fixed Spiritually

Sufism is therefore not 'Do as I say and not as I do', or even 'Do as I do', but 'Experience and you will know'. By Idries Shah Experience Sufism

It is experience which teaches, not controversy based on supposed logic and assumptions of what is likely to be true. By Idries Shah Teaches True Experience Controversy Based

Saying of the ProphetThe BequestI have nothing to leave you except my family. By Idries Shah Family Prophetthe Bequesti Leave

As swords were designed to killThey did well to make them tongue-shaped.(Anwar-i-Suhaili) By Idries Shah Swords Designed Killthey Make

Learning without action is like wax without honey.(Anwar-i-Suhaili) By Idries Shah Learning Honey Action Wax

IMPRESSIONS Time brought a thousand impressions. Not one of them had I seen in the mirror of the imagination.(Anwar-i-Suhaili) By Idries Shah Impressions Time Brought Thousand Imagination

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

There is a succession of experiences which together constitute the educational and developmental ripening of the learner, according to the Sufis. People who think that each gain is the goal itself will freeze at any such stage, and cannot learn through successive and superseding lessons. By Idries Shah Sufis Learner Succession Experiences Constitute

Saadi's dictum, in the Bostan: 'The Path is not in the rosary, the prayer-mat and the robe By Idries Shah Bostan Path Saadi Dictum Rosary

Better to be safe than to be sorry' is a remark of value only when these are the actual alternatives. By Idries Shah Alternatives Safe Remark Actual

Disappointment cannot exist without expectation. The expected apricot is never as sweet when it reaches the mouth. By Idries Shah Disappointment Expectation Exist Mouth Expected

ServiceI will not serve God like a labourer, in expectation of my wages.Rabia el-Adawia. By Idries Shah God Servicei Labourer Eladawia Serve

If you are 'humble', it may help you in ordinary life. If you are not, you will get nowhere in higher things. By Idries Shah Humble Life Ordinary Things Higher

The Sufis,' runs the saying, 'understand with their hearts what the most learned scholars cannot understand with their minds By Idries Shah Sufis Understand Runs Minds Hearts

Until you can understand illogicality, and the meaningfulness of it, shun the Sufis except for limited, precise, self-evident services. By Idries Shah Precise Sufis Illogicality Shun Limited

Real generosity is anonymous to the extent that a man should be prepared even to be considered ungenerous rather than explain it to others. By Idries Shah Real Generosity Anonymous Extent Man

Haste is from the Devil. By Idries Shah Devil Haste

I am an idol worshipper; for I understand what idol worship means, and the idolater does not. By Idries Shah Worshipper Idol Understand Worship Idolater

The decline in the influence of religion has been due, in the main, not to religion itself, but to the very shallowness of many practitioners. People who are indoctrinated and mistake implanted obsession for faith, are themselves destroyers of the very thing which they imagine themselves called upon to try to protect.In fact, of course, they have no such call: and their capacity to protect something which is other than their imaginings makes for a comical situation. By Idries Shah Religion Due Main Practitioners Decline

Three things cannot be retrieved:The arrow once sped from the bowThe word spoken in hasteThe missed opportunity. Ali, the Lion of Islam. By Idries Shah Retrieved Opportunity Things Arrow Sped

Learn about hornets from those who have been stung by them. By Idries Shah Learn Hornets Stung

When the ignorant have become numerous or powerful enough, they have been referred to by a special name. This names is 'the Wise'. By Idries Shah Wise Ignorant Numerous Powerful Referred

Why did I do such-and-such a thing?' is all very well. But what about 'How otherwise could I have done it? By Idries Shah Thing

He is the completed Man who, from his completeness, performs, with his Mastership, the work of a slave. By Idries Shah Performs Mastership Man Completeness Slave

If the path has been laid down, why the successive appearance of different teachers? Why would anyone reinvent the wheel, if everything were as cosy and sequential as primitive longing so easily convinces us? By Idries Shah Teachers Path Laid Successive Appearance

Rumi speaks of people who rely upon the written word as sometimes being no more than donkeys laden with books. By Idries Shah Rumi Books Speaks People Rely

Practise your knowledge, for knowledge without practice is a body without life By Idries Shah Practise Life Knowledge Practice Body

As with any other specialisation, teaching is a vocation, open only to those who are truly capable of discharging its functions. By Idries Shah Specialisation Teaching Vocation Open Functions

Exaggeration is a standard peculiarity of man. To deprecate is often a form of exaggeration which people do not notice, because it appears to be its opposite. By Idries Shah Man Exaggeration Standard Peculiarity Notice

One of the tragedies of modern times is that people have come to believe that something said by someone in the past, perhaps for illustrative or provocation purposes, actually represents that person's beliefs at the time. By Idries Shah Past Purposes Tragedies Modern People

A Sufi has a right to be served, but he has no right to demand. Maruf Karkhi of Khorasan By Idries Shah Sufi Served Demand Khorasan Karkhi

The sight of God in woman is the most perfect of all. Ibn Arabi. By Idries Shah God Arabi Sight Woman Perfect

We and all our existences are non-entities. Thou art the absolute being whose appearance is transitory. By Idries Shah Nonentities Existences Thou Transitory Art

Eat what you desire, but dress like other people. By Idries Shah Eat Desire People Dress

Sufism is, in operation, pragmatic. By Idries Shah Pragmatic Sufism Operation

Question 3: Why should a person study Sufism?Answer: Because he was created to study it; it is his next step. By Idries Shah Answer Question Sufism Step Study

Trying to force something is the best way to stop it happening. By Idries Shah Happening Force Stop

When people believe that the form is more important than the Truth, they will not find truth, but will stay with form. By Idries Shah Truth Form People Important Find

The Apparent is the Bridge to the Real By Idries Shah Real Apparent Bridge

Everything man needs is in the world. By Idries Shah World Man

Much smoke has been seen, and caused great fear of fire - even when no fire ensued. By Idries Shah Ensued Fire Smoke Caused Great

When you realise the difference between the container and the content, you will have knowledge. By Idries Shah Content Knowledge Realise Difference Container

Talking about straws and camels' backs is just one way of approaching things. If you have enough camels, no backs need be broken. By Idries Shah Talking Things Backs Straws Camels

Forms are vehicles and instruments, and vehicles and instruments cannot be called good or bad without context. By Idries Shah Vehicles Instruments Forms Context Called

RemedyYour medicine is in you, and you do not observe it. Your ailment is from yourself, and you do not register it.Hazrat Ali By Idries Shah Remedyyour Medicine Observe Ali Ailment

Your medicine is in you, and you do not observe it. Your ailment is from yourself, and you do not register it. By Idries Shah Medicine Observe Ailment Register

If, from time to time, you give up expectation, you will be able to perceive what it is you are getting. By Idries Shah Time Expectation Give Perceive

Better to quarrel with a friend than to support enemies. By Idries Shah Enemies Quarrel Friend Support

People who have fallacious objectives are like the barren soil. The flowers grow from soil which is composed of the right objectives. By Idries Shah People Objectives Soil Fallacious Barren

None should say : 'I can trust,' or 'I cannot trust' until he is a master of the option, of trusting or not trusting. By Idries Shah Trust Option Trusting Master

What is humanity? To feel pain at the sorrows of our neighbours, to feel humiliated at the humiliation of fellow-beings. By Idries Shah Humanity Feel Neighbours Fellowbeings Pain

The donkey which brought you to this door must be dismissed if you want to get through it'. By Idries Shah Donkey Brought Door Dismissed

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. By Idries Shah People Things Banality Boredom Bored

Give and TakeThe Chief takes less than he is givenAnd gives more than he has taken By Idries Shah Chief Takethe Givenand Give Gives

It has truly been said that 'Humility is not so much a virtue as a necessity, in order to learn. By Idries Shah Humility Necessity Learn Virtue Order

The Sufi is 'One who does not care when something is taken from him, but who does not cease to seek for what he has not. By Idries Shah Sufi Care Cease Seek

When the Higher Man does something worthy of admiration, it is an evidence of his Mastership, not the object of it. By Idries Shah Mastership Higher Man Admiration Worthy

To drown in treacle is just as unpleasant as to drown in mud. By Idries Shah Drown Mud Treacle Unpleasant

Sufis are those who have expunged from their minds the human tendencies of envy and enmity. By Idries Shah Sufis Enmity Expunged Minds Human

Dye your hair, certainly. But what can you do for your face? By Idries Shah Dye Hair Face

Sometimes a pessimist is only an optimist with extra information. By Idries Shah Information Pessimist Optimist Extra

People today are in danger of drowning in information; but, because they have been taught that information is useful, they are more willing to drown than they need be. If they could handle information, they would not have to drown at all. By Idries Shah Information Drown People Today Danger

You say that this society will come to an end, because societies always have done so. I wonder whether they have ended because they were not really societies at all. By Idries Shah End Societies Society Ended

Sufis (the name for the realised individual, not the learner or follower) are reunited with objective Reality and Unity. By Idries Shah Sufis Unity Reality Individual Follower

When the human being says:'It is not true ... 'He may mean:'I don't know about it, so I think it is untrue.'Or:'I don't like it. By Idries Shah True Human Untrue

People talk about 'service, effort, love, knowledge'. But with knowledge you know what love is, and what it is not. By Idries Shah Service Effort People Love Knowledge

You will never reach Mecca, I fear: for you are on the road to Turkestan. By Idries Shah Mecca Turkestan Fear Reach Road

A king who feared wasps once decreed that they were abolished. As it happened, they did him no harm. But he was eventually stung to death by scorpions. By Idries Shah Abolished King Feared Wasps Decreed

Hariri says, in his Maqamat: 'Safety is on the river's BANK. By Idries Shah Maqamat Safety Bank Hariri River

DeathIf he is a good man, death will be a release;If he is a bad one, it will release others from him. By Idries Shah Release Deathif Man Death Good

abandonment of spiritual values which makes us stand aghast.' The Mir answered: 'Neither could you provide entertainment for your people, nor could you bind them to your person. To call them "my people By Idries Shah Abandonment Aghast People Spiritual Makes

At His door, what is the difference between Moslem and Christian, virtuous and guilty? At his door all are seekers and He the sought. By Idries Shah Christian Moslem Virtuous Guilty Door

The laziness of adolescence is a rehearsal for the incapacity of old age. By Idries Shah Age Laziness Adolescence Rehearsal Incapacity

Greed harms you: generosity helps you. This is why it has been said: 'Greed is the mother of incapacity'. By Idries Shah Greed Generosity Harms Incapacity Mother

Do not tell your secrets to everyone in this headquarters, Earth. We have surveyed it well. There was nobody to whom to entrust secrets. By Idries Shah Earth Headquarters Secrets Surveyed Entrust

Things which are seemingly opposed may in fact be working together By Idries Shah Things Seemingly Opposed Fact Working

Knowledge is something which you can use.Belief is something which uses you. By Idries Shah Knowledge Usebelief

Almost every day I am reminded of Saadi's reflection that there is no senseless tyranny like that of subordinates. By Idries Shah Saadi Subordinates Day Reminded Reflection

People are always trying to understand.There is only one way to do that.It is to discover why you want to understand. By Idries Shah People Understand Understandthere Thatit Discover

Sufism is experiential By Idries Shah Sufism Experiential

MAN: Kick him-he'll forgive you. Flatter him-he may or may not see through you. But ignore him and he'll hate you By Idries Shah Man Kick Himhe Forgive Flatter

The man who knows must discharge a function. The one who does not, cannot arrogate one to himself; he can only try to do so. By Idries Shah Function Man Discharge Arrogate

Assume that you are part-hypocrite and part heedless, and you will not be far wrong. By Idries Shah Assume Heedless Wrong Parthypocrite Part

To Him who has sense, a sign is enoughFor the heedless, however, a thousand expositions are not enough. By Idries Shah Sense Heedless Sign Enoughfor Thousand

The barren branches may appear inelegant: They are, to the cook, the means to make his fire. By Idries Shah Inelegant Cook Fire Barren Branches

If ... says: 'Do not be greedy, be generous', you may inwardly interpret this in such a manner that you will develop a greed for generosity By Idries Shah Greedy Generous Generosity Inwardly Interpret

Forms have changed through the centuries in obedience to the external world to which all forms belong. By Idries Shah Belong Forms Changed Centuries Obedience

Advice is priceless: when it becomes interference it is preposterous. By Idries Shah Advice Priceless Preposterous Interference

Brave is the thief who carries a lamp in his hand. By Idries Shah Brave Hand Thief Carries Lamp

Voice in the nightA voice whispered to me last night: 'There is no such thing as a voice whispering in the night! By Idries Shah Night Voice Nighta Whispered Thing

As the Eastern saying, by the sage Hilali, has it, 'one person who understands is worth a hundred who merely obey a custom. By Idries Shah Hilali Eastern Custom Sage Person

Better the demon which makes you improve than the angel who threatens. By Idries Shah Threatens Demon Makes Improve Angel

BARQI: AESTHETICS IS ONLY THE LOWEST FORM OF PERCEPTION OF THE REAL. By Idries Shah Barqi Aesthetics Real Lowest Form

We are adjured not to burn the candle at both ends.But how many people have verified that physically possible? By Idries Shah Adjured Burn Candle Endsbut People

When the lion had eaten its fill, and the jackals had taken their share, the ants came along and finished up the meat from the bones of the haughty stag. By Idries Shah Fill Share Stag Lion Eaten

What is sometimes thought to be clever is, significantly often, merely an advanced form of foolishness. By Idries Shah Significantly Foolishness Thought Clever Advanced

If you give what can be taken, you are not really giving. Take what you are given, not what you want to be given. Give what cannot be taken. By Idries Shah Giving Give

The secret of Sufism is that it has no secret at all'. By Idries Shah Sufism Secret

A Sufi school comes into being in order to flourish and disappear, not to leave traces in mechanical ritual, or anthropologically survivals. By Idries Shah Sufi Disappear Ritual Survivals School

Q: How can I help myself?A: By remembering the proverb: 'The Path is not to be found anywhere except in human service', from Saadi. By Idries Shah Saadi Path Proverb Service Remembering

Words have to die if humans are to live. By Idries Shah Words Live Die Humans

SOVEREIGNTYSovereignty is a wind of change. (Hariri) By Idries Shah Hariri Sovereigntysovereignty Change Wind

All approaches to a study or an individual may start with a desire for attention. However they start, they must never end up in this manner. By Idries Shah Attention Start Approaches Study Individual

The chicken had his wish, and was magically transformed into a fox. Then he found that he could not digest grain. By Idries Shah Fox Chicken Magically Transformed Grain

No surgeon can treat the wounds of the tongue. By Idries Shah Tongue Surgeon