CHAPTER XXVI

HOLY INSTRUCTIONS OF UNITY

1. The gifts of the understanding are the treasures of Allah; and He appointed to every one his portion, in what measure seemeth good unto Himself.

2. Hath He endowed thee with wisdom? Hath He enlightened thy mind with the knowledge of truth? Communicate it to the ignorant, for their instruction; communicate it to the wise, for thine own improvement.

3. True wisdom is less presuming than folly. The wise man doubteth often, and changeth his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubteth not; he knoweth all things, but his own ignorance.

4. The pride of emptiness is an abomination; and to talk much, is the foolishness of folly; nevertheless, it is the part of wisdom to hear with patience their impertinence, and to pity their absurdity.

5. Yet be not puffed up in thine own conceit, neither boast of superior understanding; the clearest human knowledge is but blindness and folly.

6. The wise man feeleth his imperfections, and is humbled; he laboreth in vain for his own approbation but the fool peepeth in the shadow stream of his own mind, and is pleased with the pebbles which he seeth at the bottom; he bringeth them up and showeth them as pearls and with the applause of his brethren delighteth himself.

7. He boasteth of attainments in things that are of no worth; but where it is a shame to be ignorant, there he hath no understanding.

8. Even in the path of wisdom, he toileth after folly; and shame and disappointment are the reward of his labor.

9. But the wise man cultivates his mind with knowledge; the improvement of the arts is his delight, and their utility to the public crowneth with honor.

10. Nevertheless, the attainment of virtue he accounteth as the highest learning; and the science of happiness is the study of his life.