maxims by imam ali

8/8/2019 Maxims by Imam Ali

1/14


2/14

A wise man firstA wise man first

thinks and then speaksthinks and then speaks

and a fool speaks andand a fool speaks and

then thinks.then thinks.


3/14

This world isThis world is

not a place ofnot a place of

permanentpermanentsettlement, it is asettlement, it is a

passage, a roadpassage, a road

on which you areon which you are

passing.passing.

There are two kinds of peopleThere are two kinds of people

here, one is the kind who havehere, one is the kind who havesold their souls for eternalsold their souls for eternal

damnation, the other is of thosedamnation, the other is of those

who have purchased their soulswho have purchased their souls

and freed them from damnation.and freed them from damnation.


4/14

Contentment is theContentment is the

capital which will nevercapital which will never

come to an end.come to an end.

Adversities often bringAdversities often bring

your good qualities to theyour good qualities to the

front.front.


5/14

Treat people inTreat people insuch a way andsuch a way and

live amongstlive amongst

them in such athem in such a

manner that if youmanner that if youdie they weepdie they weep

over you, and ifover you, and if

you are alive theyyou are alive they

crave for yourcrave for yourcompany.company.


6/14

The world, which offers you viciousThe world, which offers you viciouspleasures is like a snake, so soft to touch, butpleasures is like a snake, so soft to touch, but

so full of lethal poison. Unwise people areso full of lethal poison. Unwise people are

allured by it and drawn towards it and wiseallured by it and drawn towards it and wise

men avoid it and keep away from itsmen avoid it and keep away from its

poisonous effects.poisonous effects.


7/14

A man can be valuedA man can be valued

through his sayings.through his sayings.

He is very unfortunate who cannot in his lifetime gain a fewHe is very unfortunate who cannot in his lifetime gain a few

sincere friends and sympathisers and more unfortunate is thesincere friends and sympathisers and more unfortunate is the

one who has gained them and then lost them (through hisone who has gained them and then lost them (through his

deeds).deeds).


8/14


9/14

How I wonder at a man who loses hopeHow I wonder at a man who loses hope

of salvation when the door of repentanceof salvation when the door of repentance

is opened for him.is opened for him.

If you understand theIf you understand themajesty of the Lordmajesty of the Lord

then you will not attachthen you will not attach

any importance to theany importance to the

universe and itsuniverse and its

marvels.marvels.


10/14

Every breath that youEvery breath that youtake is a step you puttake is a step you put

forward towards deathforward towards death..

Wealth is the fountainWealth is the fountain--head of inordinate cravings.head of inordinate cravings.


11/14

If you want to pray to the Lord forIf you want to pray to the Lord for

better means of subsistence then firstbetter means of subsistence then first

give something in charity.give something in charity.

Hearts of people are like wild birds, they attachHearts of people are like wild birds, they attach

themselves to those who love and train them.themselves to those who love and train them.


12/14

One whoOne who

adoptsadopts

patience willpatience will

never benever be

deprived ofdeprived ofsuccesssuccess

though thethough the

success maysuccess may

take a longtake a long

time to reachtime to reachhim.him.

If youIf you

cannot getcannot get

things asthings as

much as youmuch as youdesire, thendesire, then

be contentedbe contented

with whatwith what

you have.you have.


13/14

If you help a deservingIf you help a deserving

person without his requestperson without his requestthen it is generosity and ifthen it is generosity and if

you help him after hisyou help him after his

request then mostly it isrequest then mostly it is

due to shyness to refusedue to shyness to refuse

or fear of reproach.or fear of reproach.


14/14

Happy is the man whoHappy is the man who

always kept the life afteralways kept the life after

death in his view, whodeath in his view, who

remembered the Day ofremembered the Day ofReckoning through all hisReckoning through all his

deeds, who led adeeds, who led a

contented life and whocontented life and who

was happy with the lot thatwas happy with the lot that

God hath destined forGod hath destined for

him.him.

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maxims by imam ali

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