- 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
- The reason why he (any one) is not flying towards the Lord of glory is that he supposes himself to be perfect.
- ز آن نمیپرد به سوی ذو الجلال ** کاو گمانی میبرد خود را کمال
- There is no worse malady in your soul, O haughty one, than the conceit of perfection.
- علتی بدتر ز پندار کمال ** نیست اندر جان تو ای ذو دلال
- Much blood must flow from your heart and eye, that self-complacency may go out of you. 3215
- از دل و از دیدهات بس خون رود ** تا ز تو این معجبی بیرون رود
- The fault of Iblís lay in thinking “I am better (than Adam),” and this disease is in the soul of every (human) creature.
- علت ابلیس انا خیری بده ست ** وین مرض در نفس هر مخلوق هست
- Though he regard himself as very broken (in spirit), know that it is (a case of) clear water (on the surface) and dung under the stream.
- گر چه خود را بس شکسته بیند او ** آب صافی دان و سرگین زیر جو