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Garden of Translation
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We offer translated songs, poems, wisdoms and stories from Arabic and Persian
They asked someone: What is a scholar who doesn't act upon his knowledge like?

He replied: Exactly like a wasp that has no honey.

Tell the huge, merciless wasp: If you don't give honey, at least stop stinging. #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
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The wasp that stings people, and the bee that gathers honey
They asked someone: What is a scholar who doesn't act upon his knowledge like? He replied: Exactly like a wasp that has no honey. Tell the huge, mercile
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January 15, 2026 at 8:33 PM
A man without chivalry is like a cruel, merciless woman, and a greedy worshiper is like a highwayman

O you who whitened your garments seeking prestige and status (you
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Chivalry and integrity
A man without chivalry is like a cruel, merciless woman, and a greedy worshiper is like a highwayman O you who whitened your garments seeking prestige and s
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January 15, 2026 at 8:31 PM
The Book of Gulistan is completed, and God is the One from whom help is sought, by the grace of the Almighty, may His name be glorified. As is the custom of authors, I have not borrowed the poetry of the ancients in this book.
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Conclusion of the Book of Gulistan
The Book of Gulistan is completed, and God is the One from whom help is sought, by the grace of the Almighty, may His name be glorified. As is the custom of aut
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January 15, 2026 at 8:30 PM
He who did not eat his bread in his life (give to others from his surplus), his name will not be remembered at his death.

The pleasure of grapes is known to the widow (the deprived one), not the owner of the grapes. #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
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The nobility of satiety and the humility of strength
He who did not eat his bread in his life (give to others from his surplus), his name will not be remembered at his death. The pleasure of grapes is known to
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January 10, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Do not ask a poor, exhausted person in a time of famine, "How are you?" unless you intend to apply balm to their wound or offer them assistance.
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Comfort through action, not words
Do not ask a poor, exhausted person in a time of famine, "How are you?" unless you intend to apply balm to their wound or offer them assistance. If you see
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January 10, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Two things are logically impossible: to receive more sustenance than allotted, and to die before the appointed time.

Destiny does not change, even if a thousand sighs of disbelief or complaints escape from a throat. #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
www.gardenoftranslation.com/the-fate-and...
The Fate And destiny
Two things are logically impossible: to receive more sustenance than allotted, and to die before the appointed time. Destiny does not change, even if a thou
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January 10, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Satan cannot prevail over one who is sincere to God, just as a tyrannical ruler cannot prevail over one who is bankrupt (for the poor have nothing to lose).
www.gardenoftranslation.com/choose-the-r...
Choose the right person to trust
Satan cannot prevail over one who is sincere to God, just as a tyrannical ruler cannot prevail over one who is bankrupt (for the poor have nothing to lose).
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January 10, 2026 at 2:38 PM
He whose ear (and heart) is deaf to the truth and to listening to advice, especially to listening to God's word in the Quran, how can he understand or comprehend its reality?
www.gardenoftranslation.com/he-whose-ear...
He whose ear is deaf to knowing the truth
He whose ear (and heart) is deaf to the truth and to listening to advice, especially to listening to God's word in the Quran, how can he understand or comprehen
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January 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
A poor man with a good end is better than a king whose fate is bad.

And sorrow followed by joy is easier to bear than happiness followed by regret. #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
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A poor man with a good end is better than a king whose fate is bad
A poor man with a good end is better than a king whose fate is bad. And sorrow followed by joy is easier to bear than happiness followed by regret. Arabi
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January 9, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The sky bestows rain upon the earth, and the earth gifts dust to the sky; every vessel leaks what it contains.

So if you see in me what is unbecoming, do not abandon your good character. #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
www.gardenoftranslation.com/do-not-aband...
Do not abandon your good character
The sky bestows rain upon the earth, and the earth gifts dust to the sky; every vessel leaks what it contains. So if you see in me what is unbecoming, do no
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January 9, 2026 at 3:44 PM
They asked one of the great elders: With all the virtues associated with the right hand, why do they wear the ring on the left finger?

He replied: Don't you know that the virtuous are always deprived?
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Why do they wear the ring on the left finger?
They asked one of the great elders: With all the virtues associated with the right hand, why do they wear the ring on the left finger? He replied: Don't you
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January 7, 2026 at 4:58 PM
They asked one of the great elders: With all the virtues associated with the right hand, why do they wear the ring on the left finger?

He replied: Don't you know that the virtuous are always deprived?
www.gardenoftranslation.com/why-do-they-...
Why do they wear the ring on the left finger?
They asked one of the great elders: With all the virtues associated with the right hand, why do they wear the ring on the left finger? He replied: Don't you
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January 7, 2026 at 4:56 PM
A person who wishes to advise kings is acceptable, provided they do not fear losing their head (if the king is angered by the advice and orders their execution) or hope to acquire gold (out
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It is permissible for someone to offer advice to kings
A person who wishes to advise kings is acceptable, provided they do not fear losing their head (if the king is angered by the advice and orders their execution)
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January 7, 2026 at 4:53 PM
It is the king's duty to confront the oppressors, the chief of police's duty to confront murderers and criminals, and the judge's duty to adjudicate between disputants. #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
www.gardenoftranslation.com/it-is-the-ki...
It is the king's duty to confront the oppressors
It is the king's duty to confront the oppressors, the chief of police's duty to confront murderers and criminals, and the judge's duty to adjudicate between dis
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January 7, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Everyone's teeth are sensitive to acidity, except judges, who are sensitive to sweetness (they love bribes). #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
www.gardenoftranslation.com/the-greedy-a...
The Greedy and Unjust Judge
Everyone's teeth are sensitive to acidity, except judges, who are sensitive to sweetness (they love bribes). If a judge takes a bribe (Saadi mentioned Cucum
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January 7, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Whoever fights against the bigger one (argues/antagonizes) makes their blood permissible for others to shed (for revenge). #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
www.gardenoftranslation.com/the-arrogant...
The arrogant person who sees himself as greater than they are
Whoever fights against the bigger one (argues/antagonizes) makes their blood permissible for others to shed (for revenge). You think yourself greatThen, they we
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January 4, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Ten people may eat at one table, but two dogs cannot bear to eat the same carrion together.

The greedy man is hungry even if he owns the whole world, while the content man is satisfied with a morsel of bread.
www.gardenoftranslation.com/the-greedy-m...
The greedy man is hungry even if he owns the whole world
Ten people may eat at one table, but two dogs cannot bear to eat the same carrion together. The greedy man is hungry even if he owns the whole world, while t
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January 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
He who does not do good to others when he is capable, will experience hardship in his weakness.

No one is more unfortunate than the person who wrongs others, for on the day of calamity, he will not find anyone to help him. #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
www.gardenoftranslation.com/no-one-is-mo...
No one is more unfortunate than the person who wrongs others
He who does not do good to others when he is capable, will experience hardship in his weakness. No one is more unfortunate than the person who wrongs others
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January 3, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Works succeed with patience, and the hasty one reaches the end (destruction) quickly.

I saw with my own eyes in the desert that the slow one surpassed the fast one. #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
www.gardenoftranslation.com/the-slow-cam...
The slow camel beat the fast horse
Works succeed with patience, and the hasty one reaches the end (destruction) quickly. I saw with my own eyes in the desert that the slow one surpassed the f
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January 3, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Everything that rises to the top quickly does not last long.

I heard that in the lands of the East, they makea single earthenware vessel in forty years.

And they make a hundred vessels in a single day in Mardasht (a city in present-day Iran).
www.gardenoftranslation.com/everything-t...
Everything that rises to the top quickly does not last long
Everything that rises to the top quickly does not last long. I heard that in the lands of the East, they makea single earthenware vessel in forty years. A
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January 3, 2026 at 5:33 PM
For the ignorant, there is nothing better than silence. If they knew the benefit of silence, they would not be ignorant in the first place.
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The ignorant who wants to teach a donkey to speak
For the ignorant, there is nothing better than silence. If they knew the benefit of silence, they would not be ignorant in the first place. Since you do not
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January 3, 2026 at 5:31 PM
The scholar who lacks piety is like a blind man carrying a torch (the light of the torch is useless because the one carrying it is truly blind). #Gulistan #Iran #SaadiAlSherazi
www.gardenoftranslation.com/a-scholar-wi...
A scholar without piety is like a blind man
The scholar who lacks piety is like a blind man carrying a torch (the light of the torch is useless because the one carrying it is truly blind). He who waste
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January 1, 2026 at 8:48 PM
The Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) advised Qarun: “Be good as God has been good to you.” But he did not heed the advice, and you all know his end.
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The Prophet Moses advised Qarun
The Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) advised Qarun: “Be good as God has been good to you.” But he did not heed the advice, and you all know his end. Who
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January 1, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Three things don't last forever:

Money without trade (Money cannot last forever without increasing through trade)

Knowledge without discussion (Knowledge cannot advance without discussion)

And a kingdom without wise governance (Without
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Three things don't last forever
Three things don't last forever: Money without trade (Money cannot last forever without increasing through trade) Knowledge without discussion (Knowledge
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January 1, 2026 at 8:43 PM