Saadi Shirazi, born around 1210 CE in Shiraz, Iran, was a celebrated Persian poet, philosopher, and literary figure of the medieval period. His renowned works include “Gulistan” (The Rose Garden) and “Bustan” (The Orchard), collections of poetry and stories known for their profound insights into human nature, ethics, and social justice. Saadi’s writings advocate for compassion, tolerance, and empathy, reflecting his deep understanding of human psychology. Translated into numerous languages, his poetry continues to be studied and appreciated worldwide, inspiring readers with its moral teachings. Saadi’s legacy extends beyond literature, influencing generations to strive for personal growth and societal harmony. His tomb in Shiraz remains a popular pilgrimage site, attesting to his enduring impact. Saadi’s timeless wisdom emphasizes the importance of kindness, generosity, and ethical conduct, resonating with people from diverse backgrounds across the globe.
Saadi Shirazi Quotes
01. “To the friends of God, a dark night shines like the brilliant day. This felicity is not attained by strength of arm unless God the Giver bestows it.”
— Saadi Shirazi
02. “A falsehood resulting in conciliation is better than a truth producing trouble.”
— Saadi Shirazi
03. “No one is more unfortunate than an oppressor of men, because in the day of calamity no one is his friend.”
— Saadi Shirazi
04. “The lucky radiant holy men achieved crown and glory by their divine wisdom. You don’t walk awry behind those who tread straight path. No place is more safe than the dominion of dervish in the universe.”
— Saadi Shirazi
05. “Do you know why the enraptured ones jerk their hands while dancing? Door of intense influx of Divine inspiration is open to them and they say adieu to the universe. To dance in the remembrance of the Friend is licit.”
— Saadi Shirazi
06. “In the eyes of the enlightened man, every leaf of the green tree, is a large book of wisdom to know God, the Omnipotent. (Every leaf is engrosses in Zikr of the Almighty).”
— Saadi Shirazi
07. “By eating less man attains angelic nature. But if he be voracious like beast, he falls like a stone.”
— Saadi Shirazi
08. “Deep in the sea, there are riches beyond your imagination. But if you seek safety, that is at the shore.”
— Saadi Shirazi
09. “Green wood can be bent. But once it becomes dry, it can only be straightened by fire.”
— Saadi Shirazi
10. “If a gem falls into the mud, it will still remain valuable. And if the dust descends to heaven, it will still be of no value.”
— Saadi Shirazi
11. “The Alchemist dies in frustration and sorrow. And the fool finds a treasure in a ruin.”
— Saadi Shirazi
12. “A raindrop, dripping from a cloud. Ashamed when it saw the sea. ‘Who am I where is a sea’, it said. As it saw itself, from the eyes of humility A shell embraced him and makes him a pearl.”
— Saadi Shirazi
13. “Ten dervishes can sleep beneath one blanket. Two kings cannot rein in one kingdom.”
— Saadi Shirazi
14. “No one throws stones at the barren tree.”
— Saadi Shirazi
15. “One who gives advice to heedlessness is himself in need of advice.”
— Saadi Shirazi
16. “Make no friendship with an elephant keeper. If you have no room to entertain an elephant.”
— Saadi Shirazi
17. “Throughout the long night, a man wept. For the sick man beside him. At dawn the visitor was dead. And the was patient alive.”
— Saadi Shirazi
18. “One day in Baghdad the central Bazar caught on fire. Someone came to me and told me that my store had been spared in the fire. I replied – praise be to god. At that moment I became ashamed before people for selfishly seeking my own advantage, thirty years now I have been seeking God to forgive me for once saying that – praise be to god.”
— Saadi Shirazi
19. “A miser hoarded all his wealth and spent nothing on his family. But one day his son discovered the hiding place. He dug up all the gold and put a large stone in the place. The money he spent in riotous living. His father soon discovered his loss and was overcome with grief, but his son said cheerfully – gold is for spending father! for hiding, stone is just as good.”
— Saadi Shirazi
20. “A student said to his teacher, what am I to do? I am troubled by the people, many of whom make me visits. By their coming and going they encroach upon my precious time. The teacher replied – lend something to every one of them who is poor and ask something to everyone of them who is rich, and they will come round thee no more.”
— Saadi Shirazi
21. “A thief entered the house of a Sufi and found nothing there to steal. As he was leaving, the dervish, sensing his disappointment, threw him the blanket on which he had been lying.”
— Saadi Shirazi
22. “An unjust king asked a devotee what king of worship is best. He replied, for thee, the best is to sleep one half of the day so as not to injure the people for a while.”
— Saadi Shirazi
23. “I noticed an Arab of the desert sitting in a company of jewelers. He said – I had once lost my road in the desert and consumed all my food. I considered that I must perish when I suddenly caught sight of a bulging canvas bag. I shall never forget the joy and ecstasy I felt on thinking it might be parched grain nor the bitterness and despair when I discovered it to be full of pearls.”
— Saadi Shirazi
24. “If people injure you, grieve not, because neither peace nor grief come from the people. Be aware that the contrasts of friends and foes are from God. Although the arrow is shot from the bow, wise man look at the archer.”
— Saadi Shirazi
25. “I saw Shaikh Syed Abdul Qaadir Jilani in the holy Kaaba with his face on the pebbles and sayings: “O Lord! Pardon my sins and if I deserve punishment, cause me to arise blind on the Day of Resurrection that I might not be ashamed in the sight of the righteous.””
— Saadi Shirazi
26. “An unjust king asked a devotee what king of worship is best. He replied, for thee, the best is to sleep one half of the day so as not to injure the people for as while.”
— Saadi Shirazi
27. “Be not apprehensive of tangled affairs and keep not a broken heart, because the spring of life is in darkness.”
— Saadi Shirazi
28. “The outward dress of gnostics is the patched frock. It is enough to display for the people. Strive to be good, may you wear anything you like. Abdication of sensual appetition, the world and greed are sanctity in true sense, not the abandonment of raiments.”
— Saadi Shirazi
29. “Sinners repent of their transgression, Gnostics (Aarifeen) seck forgiveness for their worships. I ask not for the acceptance of my service, but for drawing the pen of pardon over my sins.”
— Saadi Shirazi
30. “You cannot become knower of God through your egoism. Honour is not based on one’s talks nor exaltation on self-conceit and claim. Humility will lead you to elevated rank. Stiff-necked ferocious falls headlong. Don’t seek renown if you desire exalted station. Don’t search mystic path from a lustful person and don’t hate others.”
— Saadi Shirazi
31. “If you desire God to condone your sinful acts, do good to the people whom God has created.”
— Saadi Shirazi
32. “The folk of God are those who excelled others in altruism: they are be like those who spend nights in prayers but their heart is dead.”
— Saadi Shirazi
33. “Keep your belly empty of food so that you might attain light of gnosis (Marifat). You are void of wisdom on the ground that you are replete with food up to the nose.”
— Saadi Shirazi
34. “You will not be able to obtain approbation of the sultan unless you seck the goodwill of his subjects.”
— Saadi Shirazi
35. “Whom You (God) guide no one can lead him astray; whom You casts off, on one can guide him.”
— Saadi Shirazi
36. “He who lifts up his neck with false pretention, falls himself downward on his neck.”
— Saadi Shirazi
37. “The entire universe is replete with rapture of His audition and emotion. But what a blind can see in a mirror!”
— Saadi Shirazi
38. “The pretender sees no one but himself, because he has the veil of conceit in front. If he were endowed with a God-discerning eye, he would see that no one is weaker than himself.”
— Saadi Shirazi
39. “That man earns nobility in both the worlds who treats the creatures of God with kindness.”
— Saadi Shirazi
40. “A learned man, who is not abstinent resembles a torchbearer who guides others but does not guide himself.”
— Saadi Shirazi
41. “It is best for the worshipper to seek forgiveness for his transgressions at the throne of God, although what is worthy of His dignity, no one is able to accomplish.”
— Saadi Shirazi
