For example, there is a balance in the appointed hour being vague; it holds true, whatever your circumstances.

The two pans of fear and hope, working for the next world or for this; imagined permanent existence imparts a pleasure to life.

Twenty years of uncertain life are preferable to a thousand-year lifetime the end of which is specified. For after half of it had passed, every passing hour you would be taking another step towards the gallows.

Your suffering would increase proportionately; it would afford you no solace; you would find no peace.

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It Is Mistaken to Feel Mercy and Anger Greater Than God’s

It Is Mistaken to Feel Mercy and Anger Greater Than God’s

Greater mercy than God’s may not be bestowed. Greater wrath than God’s may not be visited on something.

So leave matters to the All-Just and Compassionate One, for to be more compassionate causes you pain, and to be more wrathful is wrongful.

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Wastefulness Leads to Squandering, Squandering Leads to Poverty

Wastefulness Leads to Squandering, Squandering Leads to Poverty

My wasteful brother! Two morsels which are the same as regards nutrition, one costing one kurush, the other, costing ten,

Are equal both before they enter the mouth, and after they have passed down the gullet. Only for a few seconds in the mouth do they give pleasure to the heedless.

They have different tastes, which always deceives it, that sense of taste; it is a doorkeeper and inspector for the body and stomach.

The taste’s effect is negative, not positive; its function, only to tip the doorkeeper and gratify it; to give pleasure to that senseless one!

To confuse it in its true duty, to give it eleven kurush rather than one, is a satanic habit.

The most prodigal of wastefulness, the worst form of extravagance, is one sort, one way: so don’t seek it.

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