The Secret Of Sufism Is That It

But One May Say Something And Yet Not Be Able To Do It. Try, For Instance, Lifting Yourself Up By The Bootstraps.

One Cannot Learn From Someone Whom One Distrusts.

Premature Independence Is The Daughter Of Conceit.

One Can Give Or Withhold In A Manner Far More Effective, Sophisticated, Useful, Which Is Quite Invisible To People Who Think That Giving Or Withholding Is Done By External Assessment. If You Seek Some Mark Of Favour Or 'promotion', Know That You Are Not Ready For It. Progress Comes Through Capacity To Learn, And Is Irresistible. Nobody Can Stand Between You And Knowledge If You Are Fit For It.

If A Pot Can Multiply. One Day Nasrudin Lent His Cooking Pots To A Neighbour, Who Was Giving A Feast. The Neighbour Returned Them, Together With One Extra One – A Very Tiny Pot. 'what Is This?' Asked Nasrudin. 'according To Law, I Have Given You The Offspring Of Your Property Which Was Born When The Pots Were In My Care,' Said The Joker. Shortly Afterwards Nasrudin Borrowed His Neighbour's Pots, But Did Not Return Them. The Man Came Round To Get Them Back. 'alas!' Said Nasrudin, 'they Are Dead. We Have Established, Have We Not, That Pots Are Mortal?'.