Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/279

On Rules for Conduct of Life

eat slow, devotees half satisfy their appetite, recluses only eat to preserve life, youths until the dishes are removed, old men till they begin to perspire, but Qalandars till no room remains in the bowels for drawing breath, and no food on the table for anybody.

consult women brings on ruin, and to be liberal to rebellious men, crime.

To have mercy on sharp-toothed tigers is to be tyrannical towards sheep.

has power over his foe, and does not slay him, is his own enemy.

With a stone in the hand, and a snake on a stone, it is folly to consider and to delay.

Others, however, enounce a contrary opinion, and say that it is preferable to respite captives, because the option of killing or not killing remains; but if they be slain without delay, it is possible that some advantage may be lost, the like of which cannot be again obtained.

It is quite easy to deprive a man of life; when he is slain he cannot be resuscitated again. It is a condition of wisdom in the archer to be patient, because when the arrow leaves the bow it returns no more.