My dear heart, never think you are better than others. Listen to their sorrows with compassion. If you want peace, don't harbor bad thoughts, do not gossip and don't teach what you do not know.
RumiRead
Know mankind well, don't degrade every man as evil, and don't exalt every man thinking he is good. He who cannot discover himself; cannot discover the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of understanding human nature and oneself to comprehend the world.
Rumi highlights the complexity of human character, advising us against the extremes of labeling everyone as either entirely good or evil. By advocating for a balanced view of humanity, he suggests that real self-discovery and understanding of the world come from an acceptance of this complexity, which ultimately enriches our perspective and interactions with others.
Themes
Self-DiscoveryHuman NatureUnderstandingWisdomBalance
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, one might say, 'As Rumi wisely pointed out, knowing mankind well is essential for understanding ourselves and the world around us.'
More from Rumi
All quotes βThe Law of Wonder rules my life at last, _x000D_ ...I burn each second of my life to Love _x000D_ Each second of my life burns out in Love _x000D_ In each leaping second Love lives afresh.
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Lovers have heartaches _x000D_ That can't be cured by drugs _x000D_ Or sleep, _x000D_ Or games, _x000D_ But only by seeing their beloved.
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Every fragile beauty, every perfect forgotten sentence, you grieve their going away, but that is not how it is. Where they come from never goes dry. It is an always flowing spring.
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Whatever you keep hidden in your heart, God _x000D_ manifests in you outwardly. Whatever the root of _x000D_ the tree feeds on in secret, affects the bough and _x000D_ the leaf.
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Come on sweetheart let's adore one another before there is no more of you and me
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