- The clear mirror of bread is truly the hungry man; tinder, likewise, is the mirror of that (the stick or flint) from which fire is struck.
- آینهی صافی نان خود گرسنه ست ** سوخته هم آینهی آتش زنه ست
- Not-being and defect, wherever they arise (appear), are the mirror which displays the excellence of all crafts.
- نیستی و نقص هر جایی که خاست ** آینهی خوبی جملهی پیشههاست
- When a garment is neat and well-stitched, how should it enable the tailor to exhibit his skill? 3205
- چون که جامه چست و دوزیده بود ** مظهر فرهنگ درزی چون شود
- Trunks of trees must be unhewn in order that the woodcutter may fashion the stem or the branches (and thus exercise his craft).
- ناتراشیده همیباید جذوع ** تا دروگر اصل سازد یا فروع
- The doctor who sets broken bones goes to the place where the person with the fractured leg is.
- خواجهی اشکسته بند آن جا رود ** که در آن جا پای اشکسته بود
- How shall the excellence of the art of medicine be made manifest when there is no emaciated invalid?
- کی شود چون نیست رنجور نزار ** آن جمال صنعت طب آشکار
- How shall the (power of the) Elixir be shown if the vileness and baseness of coppers is not notorious?
- خواری و دونی مسها بر ملا ** گر نباشد کی نماید کیمیا
- Defects are the mirror of the quality of perfection, and that vileness is the mirror of power and glory, 3210
- نقصها آیینهی وصف کمال ** و آن حقارت آینهی عز و جلال
- Because (every) contrary is certainly made evident by its contrary; because honey is perceived (to be sweet by contrast) with vinegar.
- ز آن که ضد را ضد کند پیدا یقین ** ز آن که با سرکه پدید است انگبین
- Whoever has seen and recognised his own deficiency has galloped with ten horses (made rapid progress) in perfecting himself.
- هر که نقص خویش را دید و شناخت ** اندر استکمال خود ده اسبه تاخت