A friend whom you have been gaining during your whole life, you ought not to be displeased with in a moment. A stone is many years becoming a ruby - take care that you do not destroy it in an instant against another stone.
SaadiRead
When the belly is empty, the body becomes spirit; and when it is full, the spirit becomes body.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the relationship between physical needs and spiritual state.
Saadi's quote emphasizes the interconnectedness of the physical body and the spirit. It suggests that when one's physical needs, such as hunger, are unmet, the spirit is heightened, possibly due to the focus on survival. Conversely, when one is well-fed and content, the focus may shift back to the physical, suggesting a balance between the two states and the idea that our material condition influences our spiritual well-being.
Themes
SpiritBodyHungerNeedsBalance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of addressing basic human needs, one might say, 'As Saadi wisely put it, when the belly is empty, the body becomes spirit.'
More from Saadi
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Ants, fighting together, will vanquish the lion.
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An enemy to whom you show kindness becomes your friend, excepting lust, the indulgence of which increases its enmity.
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Human beings are members of a whole,_x000D_ In creation of one essence and soul._x000D_ If one member is afflicted with pain,_x000D_ Other members uneasy will remain._x000D_ If you have no sympathy for human pain,_x000D_ The name of human you cannot retain.
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