Some men, like spaniels, will only fawn the more when repulsed, but will pay little heed to a friendly caress.

The other world is as to this like the east to the west. We cannot approach the one without turning away from the other.

The diurnal sun sets at night, but the sun of the heart never disappears.

Collect as precious pearls the words of the wise and virtuous.

It is with a word as with an arrow--once let it loose and it does not return.

Abu Sa'id al-Kharraz said I have never known Allah May He be exalted except through the coincidence in Him of the opposites. 'He is the First and the Last, the Apparent and the Hidden.'

Death is a black camel, which kneels at the gates of all.

When God wanted to create the horse, he said to the South Wind, "I want to make a creature of you. Condense." And the Wind condensed.

By reason of his elegance, he resembles an image painted in a palace, though he is as majestic as the palace itself.

O my people, I disavow all that you associate [with God]. I orient my face with an exclusive orientation towards Him, who created the heavens and the earth and I am not one of the associators.

I've always thought people would find a lot more pleasure in their routines if they burst into song at significant moments.

The secret of effective living is detachment

Who would you be without your story?

Stop worrying and start living.

All the Utopias will come to pass only when we grow wings and all people are converted into angels.

The traitor to Humanity is the traitor most accursed; Man is more than Constitutions; better rot beneath the sod, Than be true to Church and State while we are doubly false to God.

From now back to antiquity, its (Tao's) name has not been lost. Thereby, see the origin of all.

First time I saw Elvis was at the Lubbock County fairgrounds in Lubbock, Texas. He was on the back end of a truck. There was about 1500 screaming kids.

I tell my students, it's got to be warm, dry, and noble.

Persons who merely have-a-life customarily move in a dense fluid. That's how they're able to conduct their lives at all. Their living depends on not seeing.