Ali ibn Abi Talib Quotes

“A brother is like gold and a friend is like diamond. If gold cracks you can melt it and make it just like it was before. If a diamond cracks, it can never be like it was before.”

“A friend cannot be considered a friend until he is tested in three occasions: in time of need, behind your back, and after your death.”

“A graceful refusal is better than a lengthy promise.”

“A hopeless man sees difficulties in every chance, but a hopeful person sees chances in every difficulty.”

“A moment of patience in a moment of anger prevents a thousand moments of regret.”

“A true friend is one who sees a fault, gives you advice and who defends you in your absence.”

“A wise man always has something to say, whereas a fool always needs to say something.”

“Allah, the Exalted, gave the angels intellect without desires, He gave the animals desires without intellect, and He gave both to the sons of Adam. So a man whose intellect prevails over his desires is better than the angels, whilst a man whose desire prevails over his intellect is worse than the animals.”

“Asceticism is not that you should not own anything, but that nothing should own you.”

“Authority, power, and wealth do not change a man; they only reveal him.”

“Backbiting is the attempt of one who is incapable of doing better himself.”

“Be like a flower that gives its fragrance even to the hand that crushed it.”

“Beautiful people are not always good, but good people are always beautiful.”

“Beware of speaking too much, for it increases mistakes and engenders boredom.”

“Body is purified by water. Ego by tears. Intellect is purified by knowledge. And soul is purified with love.”

“Courtesy costs nothing, but buys everything.”

“Develop in your heart the feeling of love for your people and let it be the source of kindliness and blessing to them. Do not behave with them like a barbarian, and do not appropriate to yourself that which belongs to them. Remember that the citizens of the state are of two categories. They are either your brethren in religion or your brethren in kind. They are subject to infirmities and liable to commit mistakes.”

“Dislike in yourself what you dislike in others.”

“Do not be too hard, lest you be broken; do not be too soft, lest you be squeezed.”

“Do not feel lonely on the road of righteousness Because of the fewness of the walkers on it.”

“Do not hate what you do not know, for the greater part of knowledge consists of what you do not know.”

“Do not let your difficulties fill you with anxiety, after all it is only in the darkest nights that stars shine more brightly.”

“Do not raise your children the way your parents raised you; they were born for a different time.”

“Do not take someone's silence as his pride, perhaps he is busy fighting with his self.”

“Do not use the sharpness of your speech on your mother who taught you how to speak.”

“Don't engage your heart in grief over the past or you wont be ready for what is coming.”

“Fear the sins that you commit in secret, because the Witness of those sins is the Judge Himself!”

“Hate no one, no matter how much they've wronged you. Live humbly, no matter how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is. Give much, even if you've been given little. Keep in touch with the ones who have forgotten you, and forgive who has wronged you, and do not stop praying for the best for those you love.”

“He is the wisest and the most knowing man who advises people not to lose hope and faith in the Mercy of Allah and not to be too sure and over-confident of immunity from His Wrath and Punishment.”

“He who trusts the world, the world betrays him.”