Great Throughts Treasury

"The answer to a fool is silence."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"Trust in God but tie your camel well."

"A garden without a fence is like a dog without a tail."

"A good name is more valuable than a velvet garment."

"A handful of couscous is better than Mecca and all its dust."

"A little nod is enough for the wise man; an ass needs a fist."

"A pipe of kif in the morning gives one more strength than a 100 camels in the courtyard."

"A stone from the hand of a friend is an apple."

"A teacher will appear when the student is ready."

"A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but Allah tests the heart."

"A dog on the run is safely kicked."

"A fool's lips bring him strife and invite a beating."

"A wise man without a book is like a workman with no tools."

"A wise woman has much to say, yet remains silent."

"Allah gives dried beans to eat to him who has no teeth left."

"Better a patient man than a warrior, one who controls his temper than one who takes a city."

"Among walnuts only the empty one speaks."

"An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips."

"Better the gurgling of a camel than the prayers of a fish."

"As the sands of the desert are to the weary traveler, so are words to he who loveth silence."

"Better a handful of dried figs and content with that, than to own the gate of peacocks and be kicked in the eye by a broody camel."

"By all means make friends with the dog, but do not lay aside the stick."

"By bread and salt we are united."

"By all means trust in Allah, but tie your camel first."

"Catch the halter rope and it will lead you to the donkey."

"Cold teaches a man how to steal charcoal."

"Do not respond to a barking dog."

"Discipline awaits he who leaves his path."

"Do not judge a man by the whiteness of his turban, soap is bought on credit."

"Do not shoot a glass arrow into a painted deer."

"Either do as your neighbors do, or move away."

"Don't cross the bridge till you come to it"

"Even as a solid rock is unshaken by the wind, so are the wise unshaken by praise or blame."

"Entering the Hammam (traditionnal bath) is not like leaving it."

"Endurance pierces marble."

"Every rose has a thorn as its friend."

"Every dog thinks of his own fleas as gazelles."

"Evening promises are like butter: morning comes, and it's all melted."

"For the sake of a single rose, the gardener becomes servant to a thousand thorns."

"For he who builds his casbah out of halava; beware the nibblers."

"Friendship is honey, but don't eat it all."

"Exert effort, you shall be rewarded."

"He who is a mocker dances without a tambourine."

"He who follows the crow will be led the corpses of dogs."

"He who gives fair words feeds you with an empty spoon."

"He who has patience with his enemy, rewards himself."

"He who has nothing to die for has nothing to live for."

"He who enters Fez with a rug, leaves with a money bag."

"He who eats when he is full digs his grave with his teeth."