Quotes from Ali bin Abu-Talib

Take warning! He has not exposed so many of your sinful activities that it appears as if He has forgiven you (it may be that He has given you time to repent).

When you have to depart from this world and have to meet death (eventually), then why wish delay? (i.e., why feel nervous about death?)

The best form of devotion to the service of God is not to make a show of it.

When you get ill do not get nervous about it and try as much as possible to be hopeful.

Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out the secrets of your hidden thoughts.

O son of Adam, when you see that your Lord, the Glorified, bestows His Favors on you while you disobey Him, you should fear Him (take warning that His Wrath may not turn those very blessings into misfortunes).

To render relief to the distressed and to help the oppressed make amends for great sins.

If the right usurped from us is given back to us we shall take it, otherwise we shall go on claiming it.

Failures are often the results of timidity and fears; disappointments are the results of bashfulness; hours of leisure pass away like summer-clouds, therefore, do not waste opportunity of doing good.

Overlook and forgive the weaknesses of the generous people because if they fall down, God will help them.

When some 'blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness.

If you overpower your enemy, then pardon him by way of thankfulness to God, for being able to subdue him.

When this world favors somebody, it lends him the attributes, and surpassing merits of others and when it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excellences and fame.

Surely the likeness of this world is that of a snake: it is soft to touch, and deadly poisonous. The ignorant child is distracted by it, and the one with understanding and intellect is cautious of it. So turn away from what fascinates you in it, for how little of it stays with you.

Submission to God's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.

During civil disturbance adopt such an attitude that people do not attach any importance to you - they neither burden you with complicated affairs, nor try to derive any advantage out of you.

Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death). So whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practises piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds.

Value of each man depends upon the art and skill which he has attained.

Seek help from those who were satiated and then hungry, not from those who were hungry and then satiated.

A virtuous person is better than virtue and a vicious person is worse than vice.

If someone's deeds lower his position, his pedigree cannot elevate it.

Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).

A wise man's bosom is the safe of his secrets.

Mutilate not even a rabid dog.