Intelligence consists of two intelligences; the former is the acquired one which you learn, like a boy at school,1960
عقل دو عقلست اول مکسبی ** که در آموزی چو در مکتب صبی
From book and teacher and reflexion and (committing to) memory, and from concepts, and from excellent and virgin (hitherto unstudied) sciences.
از کتاب و اوستاد و فکر و ذکر ** از معانی وز علوم خوب و بکر
(By this means) your intelligence becomes superior to (that of) others; but through preserving (retaining in your mind) that (knowledge) you are heavily burdened.
عقل تو افزون شود بر دیگران ** لیک تو باشی ز حفظ آن گران
You, (occupied) in wandering and going about (in search of knowledge), are a preserving (recording) tablet; the preserved tablet is he that has passed beyond this.
لوح حافظ باشی اندر دور و گشت ** لوح محفوظ اوست کو زین در گذشت
The other intelligence is the gift of God: its fountain is in the midst of the soul.
عقل دیگر بخشش یزدان بود ** چشمه‌ی آن در میان جان بود
When the water of (God-given) knowledge gushes from the breast, it does not become fetid or old or yellow (impure);1965
چون ز سینه آب دانش جوش کرد ** نه شود گنده نه دیرینه نه زرد
And if its way of issue (to outside) be stopped, what harm? for it gushes continually from the house (of the heart).
ور ره نبعش بود بسته چه غم ** کو همی‌جوشد ز خانه دم به دم
The acquired intelligence is like the conduits which run into a house from the streets:
عقل تحصیلی مثال جویها ** کان رود در خانه‌ای از کویها
(If) its (the house’s) water-way is blocked, it is without any supply (of water) Seek the fountain from within yourself!
راه آبش بسته شد شد بی‌نوا ** از درون خویشتن جو چشمه را
Story that some one was consulting another, who said, "Consult some one else, for I am your enemy."
قصه‌ی آنک کسی به کسی مشورت می‌کرد گفتش مشورت با دیگری کن کی من عدوی توم
A certain person was consulting some one, that he might be delivered from perplexity and from a quandary.
مشورت می‌کرد شخصی با کسی ** کز تردد وا ردهد وز محبسی