Ch 08 On Rules For Conduct In Life - Admonition 10

Sa di 1210 (Shiraz) – 1291 (Shiraz)



Wrath beyond measure produces estrangement and untimely kindness destroys authority. Be neither so harsh as to disgust the people with thee nor so mild as to embolden them.

         Severity and mildness together are best  
         Like a bleeder who is a surgeon and also applies a salve.  
         A wise man uses neither severity to excess  
         Nor mildness; for it lessens his authority.  
         He neither exalts himself too much  
         Nor exposes himself at once to contempt.  
         A youth said to his father: ‘O wise man,  
         Give me for instruction one advice like an aged person.’  
         He said: ‘Be kind but not to such a degree  
         That a sharp-toothed wolf may become audacious.’

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

34 sec read
91

Quick analysis:

Scheme X XXXAXXXXAX
Closest metre Iambic octameter
Characters 737
Words 114
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 1, 10

Sa di

Saadi Shirazi was a major Persian poet and prose write of the medieval period. more…

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