Alone with the Alone

Quote No. 45 from Ali Ibn Abi Talib

On Knowledge and Speech

كلُّ عاقلٍ مغبونٌ، كلُّ عارفٍ مهمومٌ، كلُّ عالمٍ خائفٌ، كلُّ عارفٍ عائفٌ، كلُّ قانعٍ غنيٌّ، كلُّ متوكّلٍ مكفيٌّ، كلُّ طامعٍ أسيرٌ، كلُّ حريصٍ فقير.

Every rational person feels like they have fallen short. Every knowledgeable person is burdened. Every scholar is fearful. Every knowledgeable person is detached. Every content person is rich. Every person who trusts in God is provided for. Every greedy person is captive. Every covetous person is poor.

No. 45

These quotes come from Alone with the Alone, a 264-page bilingual hardcover of 113 quotes from Ali Ibn Abi Talib, with footnotes and an afterword.

See the book