Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/111

Stories LXI and LXII

, being asked from whom he had learnt civility, replied: "From those who had no civility, because what appeared to me unbecoming in them I refrained from doing."

Not a word is said even in sport without an intelligent man taking advice thereby; but if a hundred chapters of wisdom are read to a fool, all strike his ear merely as sport.

is related that a hermit consumed during one night ten mann of food, and perused the whole Qurân till morning. A pious fellow, who had heard of this, said: "It would have been more excellent if he had eaten half a loaf, and slept till the morning."

Keep thy interior empty of food, that thou mayest behold therein the light of ma'rifet. Thou art empty of wisdom for the reason that thou art replete with food up to the nose.