SaadiСаади

بنی آدم اعضایِ یکدیگرند

که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند

چو عضوی به درد آورد روزگار

دگر عضوها را نماند قرار

تو کز محنتِ دیگران بی‌غمی

نشاید که نامت نهند آدمی

The sons of Adam are members one of another, for in their creation they have a common origin. If the vicissitudes of fortune involve one member in pain, all the other members will feel a sympathy. Thou, who art indifferent to other men's affliction, if they call thee a man art unworthy of the name.

Nothing is so good for an ignorant man as silence ; …

نادان را به از خاموشی نیست وگر این مصلحت بدانستی نادان نبودی.

Nothing is so good for an ignorant man as silence, and if he knew this he would no longer be ignorant …

… show pity towards the wicked, for on the good thou hast already bestowed mercy by having created them virtuous …

درویشی به مناجات در می‌گفت: یا رب بر بدان رحمت كن كه بر نیكان خود رحمت كرده‌ای كه مر ایشان را نیک آفریده‌ای.

A Durwaish, in his prayer, said, " O God, show pity towards the wicked, for on the good thou hast already bestowed mercy, by having created them virtuous."

But for the cravings of the belly, not a bird would …

… have fallen into the snare ; nay, the fowler would not have spread his net.

The belly is chains to the hands and fetters to the feet.

He who is a slave to his belly seldom worships God.

گر جور شکم نیستی، هیچ مرغ در دام صیاد نیوفتادی بلکه صیاد خود دام ننهادی.

But for the cravings of the belly, not a bird would have fallen into the snare ; nay, the fowler would not have spread his net.

The belly is chains to the hands and fetters to the feet. He who is a slave to his belly, seldom worships God.

… nothing but himself, having a veil of conceit before his eyes.

If he was endowed with an eye capable of discerning God, he would not discern any person …

نبیند مدّعی جز خویشتن را

که دارد پردهٔ پندار در پیش

گرت چشمِ خدا بینی ببخشند

نبینی هیچ‌کس عاجزتر از خویش

The boaster sees nothing but himself, having a veil of conceit before his eyes.

If he was endowed with an eye capable of discerning God, he would not discover any person weaker than himself.

Oppose kindness to perverseness ; the sharp sword will not cut soft silk.

By using sweet words and gentleness you may …

… lead an elephant with a hair.

چو پرخاش بینی تحمّل بیار

که سهلی ببندد درِ کارزار

به شیرین‌زبانیّ و لطف و خوشی

توانی که پیلی به مویی کشی

Oppose kindness to perverseness ; the sharp sword will not cut soft silk.

By using sweet words, and gentleness, you may lead an elephant with a hair.

… for the sages have said that to eat one's bread, and to sit down at ease, is preferable to wearing a golden girdle, and standing up in service; …

… satisfy yourself with a loaf of bread, that you may not bend your back in servitude.

دو برادر یکی خدمت سلطان کردی و دیگر به زور بازو نان خوردی

گفت تو چرا کار نکنی تا از مذلت خدمت رهایی یابی که خردمندان گفته اند نان خود خوردن و نشستن به که کمرشمشیر زرین به خدمت بستن

به دست آهک تفته کردن خمیر

تا نکنی پشت به خدمت دو تا

THERE were two brothers, one of whom was in the service of the king, and the other ate the bread of his own industry.

… to use your hands in making mortar of quicklime, is preferable to placing them on your breast in attendance on the Umeer.

O ignoble belly, satisfy yourself with a loaf of bread, that you may not bend your back in servitude.

… yet one's own coarse clothes are preferable ; …

… and although the great man's food is exquisite, still the scraps of one's own table are more delicious.

خلعت سلطان اگر چه عزیز است جامه خلقان خود به عزت تر و خوان بزرگان اگر چه لذیذ است خرده انبان خود به لذت تر

Although a dress bestowed by a monarch is valuable, yet one's own coarse clothes are preferable ; and although the great man's food is exquisite, still the scraps of one's own table are more delicious.

First think, and then speak, but stop before they say, ' It is enough.'

Man excelleth the brute creation by the faculty of speech, but you are beneath the brute if you make an improper use of that gift.

بیندیش، وآن‌گه بر آور نفس

وز آن پیش بس کن، که گویند «بس»

به نطقْ آدمی بهتر است از دَواب

دَواب از تو به، گر نگویی صواب

First think, and then speak, but stop before they say, It is enough.

Man excelleth the brute creation by the faculty of speech, but you are beneath the brute if you make an improper use of that gift.

Прежде думай, потом говори. Но остановись прежде, чем тебе скажут: «довольно». Человек выше животного способностью речи, но ниже его, если болтает, что попало.

هر که علم خواند و عمل نکرد بدان ماند که گاو راند و تخم نیفشاند.

Whosoever acquired knowledge, and did not practise it, resembleth him who ploughed, but did not sow.

Science is to be used for the preservation of religion, and not for the acquisition of wealth.

علم از بهر دین پروردن است نه از بهر دنیا خوردن.

Science is to be used for the preservation of religion, and not for the acquisition of wealth.

Whosoever acquired knowledge, and did not prac tise it, resembleth him who ploughed, but did not sow.

هر که علم خواند و عمل نکرد بدان ماند که گاو راند و تخم نیفشاند.

Whosoever acquired knowledge, and did not practise it, resembleth him who ploughed, but did not sow.

A great river is not made turbid by a stone ; …

If any misfortune befalleth you, bear with it, that, by forgiving others, you may yourself obtain pardon.

… seeing that we are at last to return to earth, let us humble ourselves in ashes before we are changed into dust.

دریایِ فراوان نشود تیره به سنگ

عارف که برنجد تُنُک‌آب است هنوز

که به عفو از گناه پاک شوی

خاک شو، پیش از آن که خاک شوی

A great river is not made turbid by a stone ; the religious man who is hurt at injuries is as yet but shallow water.

If any misfortune befalleth you, bear with it ; that, by forgiving others, you may yourself obtain pardon.

… seeing that we are at last to return to earth, let us humble ourselves in ashes before we are changed into dust.

Почти всегда, поискав в себе, мы найдем тот же грех, который мы осуждаем в другом. Если же мы не знаем за собой именно того самого греха, то стоит только поискать, и мы найдем еще худший.

I never complained of the vicissitudes of fortune, …

… once, when my feet were bare, and I had not the means of procuring myself shoes. I entered the great mosque at Cufah with a heavy heart, when I beheld a …

… man who had no feet. I offered up praise and thanksgiving to God for his bounty, and bore with patience the want of shoes.

هرگز از دورِ زمان ننالیده بودم و روی از گردشِ آسمان در هم نکشیده، مگر وقتی که پایم برهنه مانده بود و استطاعتِ پای‌پوشی نداشتم.

به جامعِ کوفه در‌آمدم دلتنگ، یکی را دیدم که پای نداشت.

سپاسِ نعمتِ حق به جای آوردم و بر بی‌کفشی صبر کردم.

I NEVER complained of the vicissitudes of fortune, nor murmured at the ordinances of Heaven, excepting once, when my feet were bare, and I had not the means of procuring myself shoes. I entered the great mosque at Cufah with a heavy heart, when I beheld a man who had no feet.

پادشاهی پارسایی را دید.

گفت: هیچت از ما یاد آید؟

گفت: بلی! وقتی که خدا را فراموش می‌کنم.

A king said to a holy man, "Are you ever thinking of me?" "Yes," replied he, "at such time as I am forgetting God Almighty!

گفتِ عالِم به گوشِ جان بشنو

ور نماند به گفتنش کردار

مرد باید که گیرد اندر گوش

ور نوشته است پند بر دیوار

هر که در حال توانایی نکویی نکند در وقت ناتوانی سختی بیند.