Reputation

"Remember a good reputation is better than physical beauty, for a good reputation lasts, but beauty passes." - Luqman bin 'Ad

Class Differences

"Remember that when people see a rich man eating a snake, they say it is for medicinal reasons; when they see a poor man doing the same, they say it is because he is hungry." - Luqman bin 'Ad

Loquacity

"It is better to stumble with your feet than to stumble with your tongue." - Luqman bin 'Ad

Planning

"A bird in the hand is better than a thousand flying about the sky." - Luqman bin 'Ad

[courtesy of saudiaramcoworld.com]

Losers

"It is better to be beaten by a wise man than praised by a fool." - Luqman bin 'Ad

[courtesy of Saudiaramcoworld.com]

Advice About Women

"Watch out for pretty women who wear heavy makeup—they will end up spending everything you have." -Luqman bin 'Ad

[courtesy of Saudiaramcoworld.com]

The Serpent and the File

A Serpent in the course of its wanderings came into an armourer's shop. As he glided over the floor he felt his skin pricked by a file lying there. In a rage he turned round upon it and tried to dart his fangs into it; but he could do no harm to heavy iron and had soon to give over his wrath. It is useless attacking the insensible. - Aesop

[courtesy of Aesopfables.com]

The Man and His Two Wives

In the old days, when men were allowed to have many wives, a middle-aged Man had one wife that was old and one that was young; each loved him very much, and desired to see him like herself. Now the Man's hair was turning grey, which the young Wife did not like, as it made him look too old for her husband. So every night she used to comb his hair and pick out the white ones. But the elder Wife saw her husband growing grey with great pleasure, for she did not like to be mistaken for his mother. So every morning she used to arrange his hair and pick out as many of the black ones as she could. The consequence was the Man soon found himself entirely bald. Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield. - Aesop

[courtesy of Aesopfables.com]

The Fox and the Mask

A Fox had by some means got into the store-room of a theatre. Suddenly he observed a face glaring down on him and began to be very frightened; but looking more closely he found it was only a Mask such as actors use to put over their face. "Ah," said the Fox, "you look very fine; it is a pity you have not got any brains." Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth. - Aesop

[courtesy of Aesopfables.com]

The Swallow and the Other Birds

It happened that a Countryman was sowing some hemp seeds in a field where a Swallow and some other birds were hopping about picking up their food. "Beware of that man," quoth the Swallow. "Why, what is he doing?" said the others. "That is hemp seed he is sowing; be careful to pick up every one of the seeds, or else you will repent it." The birds paid no heed to the Swallow's words, and by and by the hemp grew up and was made into cord, and of the cords nets were made, and many a bird that had despised the Swallow's advice was caught in nets made out of that very hemp. "What did I tell you?" said the Swallow. Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin. - Aesop

[courtesy of Aesopfables.com]

The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar

You must know that sometimes old women like a glass of wine. One of this sort once found a Wine-jar lying in the road, and eagerly went up to it hoping to find it full. But when she took it up she found that all the wine had been drunk out of it. Still she took a long sniff at the mouth of the Jar. "Ah," she cried, "What memories cling 'round the instruments of our pleasure." - Aesop

[Courtesy of Aesopfables.com]

The Man and the Wooden God

In the old days men used to worship stocks and stones and idols, and prayed to them to give them luck. It happened that a Man had often prayed to a wooden idol he had received from his father, but his luck never seemed to change. He prayed and he prayed, but still he remained as unlucky as ever. One day in the greatest rage he went to the Wooden God, and with one blow swept it down from its pedestal. The idol broke in two, and what did he see? An immense number of coins flying all over the place. - Aesop

[courtesy of Aesopfables.com]