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The Gulistân

a sage comes in contact with fools, he must not expect to be honoured, and if an ignorant man overcomes a sage in an oratorical contest, it is no wonder, because [even] a stone breaks a jewel.

What wonder is there that the song of a nightingale ceases when imprisoned with a crow, or that a virtuous man under the tyranny of vagabonds feels affliction in his heart and is irate? Although a base stone may break a golden vase, the price of the Stone is not enhanced, nor of the gold lost.

not astonished when a wise man ceases to speak in company of vile persons, since the melody of a harp cannot overcome the noise of a drum, and the perfume of ambergris must succumb to the stench of rotten garlick.

A blatant ignoramus [proudly] lifted his neck, because he had overcome a scholar by his impudence; knowest thou not that the Hejâzi musical tune succumbs to the roar of the drum of war?

after falling into mud a jewel retains its costliness, and dust, although it may rise into the sky, is as contemptible as before. Capacity [in a man] without education is deplorable, and education [to a man] without capacity is thrown away. Ashes are of high origin, because the nature of fire is superior; but as they have no value of their own, they are similar to earth, and the price of sugar arises not from the cane, but from its own quality.