Idries Shah Quotes

Quotes about:

Belief Books Enemies Giving Progress Sufism

Enlightenment must come little by little - otherwise it would overwhelm.

Idries Shah

Spiritual, Enlightenment, Littles

Idries Shah (1999). “The Sufis”, p.124, Octagon Press Ltd

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Knowledge is not gained, it is there all the time. It is the "veils" which have to be dissolved in the mind.

Idries Shah

Mind, Veils

Idries Shah (2002). “Neglected Aspects of Sufi Study”, p.39, Octagon Press Ltd

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If you want to make an ordinary man happy, or think that he is happy, give him money, power, flattery, gifts, honours. If you want to make a wise man happy - improve yourself!

Idries Shah

Wise, Men, Thinking

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.28, Octagon Press Ltd

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Knowledge is something which you can use. Belief is something which uses you.

Idries Shah

Use, Belief

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.125, Octagon Press Ltd

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Opinion is usually something which people have when they lack comprehensive information.

Idries Shah

People, Information, Opinion

Idries Shah (2015). “Reflections”, p.54, ISF Publishing

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The chicken had his wish, and was magically transformed into a fox. Then he found that he could not digest grain.

Idries Shah

Wish, Foxes, Chickens

Idries Shah (1991). “The Magic Monastery: Analogical and Action Philosophy of the Middle East and Central Asia”, p.167, Octagon Press Ltd

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When you realize the difference between the container and the content, you will have knowledge.

Idries Shah

Differences, Realizing, Containers

Idries Shah (2016). “The Book of the Book”, p.15, ISF Publishing

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The word 'choice' is a fraud while people choose only what they have been taught to choose.

Idries Shah

People, Choices, Taught

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.22, Octagon Press Ltd

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Trying to force something is the best way to stop it happening.

Idries Shah

Trying, Way, Force

Idries Shah (1997). “The Commanding Self”, p.39, Octagon Press Ltd

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The Sufi way is through knowledge and practice, not through intellect and talk.

Idries Shah

Practice, Way, Sufi

Idries Shah (1990). “Sufi Thought and Action”, p.4, Octagon Press Ltd

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Right time, right place, right people equals success. Wrong time, wrong place, wrong people equals most of the real human history.

Idries Shah

Real, People, Right Time

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.82, Octagon Press Ltd

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When the ignorant have become numerous or powerful enough, they have been referred to by a special name. This names is 'the Wise'.

Idries Shah

Wise, Powerful, Names

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Banality is like boredom: bored people are boring people, people who think that things are banal are themselves banal. Interesting people can find something interesting in all things.

Idries Shah

Thinking, People, Interesting

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.121, Octagon Press Ltd

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History is not usually what has happened. History is what some people have thought to be significant.

Idries Shah

People, Significant, Happened

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.9, Octagon Press Ltd

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If, from time to time, you give up expectation, you will be able to perceive what it is you are getting.

Idries Shah

Giving Up, Expectations, Able

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.141, Octagon Press Ltd

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Man (and woman) has an infinite capacity for self-development. Equally, he has an infinite capacity for self-destruction. A human being may be clinically alive and yet, despite all appearances, spiritually dead.

Idries Shah

Men, Self, Alive

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From time to time ponder whether you are unconsciously saying: 'Truth is what I happen to be thinking at this moment.

Idries Shah

Thinking, Moments, Truth Is

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.140, Octagon Press Ltd

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Please, not again what you studied, how long you spent at it, how many books you wrote, what people thought of you - but: what did you learn?

Idries Shah

Book, Long, People

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.142, Octagon Press Ltd

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Materialism, attachment to things of the world, includes pride. Many religious people suffer from pride: taking pleasure or even delight in being good, or religious.

Idries Shah

Religious, Pride, Attachment

Idries Shah (1990). “Sufi Thought and Action”, p.3, Octagon Press Ltd

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Effort makes some great men famous. Even greater effort enables other great men to remain unknown.

Idries Shah

Men, Effort, Great Men

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.133, Octagon Press Ltd

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It is not important to have said a thing first, or best - or even most interestingly. What is important is to say it on the right occasion.

Idries Shah

Important, Firsts, Said

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.60, Octagon Press Ltd

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Meditation - Before you learn how to meditate, you must unlearn what you think meditation might be.

Idries Shah

Thinking, Meditation, Might

Idries Shah (1988). “Caravan of Dreams”, p.229, Octagon Press Ltd

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You are adrift while you still think that a means is an end.

Idries Shah

Mean, Thinking, Adrift

"If one says “Red” (the name ofa color) and there are 50 people listening, it can be expected that there will be 50 reds in their minds. And one can be sure that all these reds will be very different".

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To 'see both sides' of a problem is the surest way to prevent its complete solution. Because there are always more than two sides.

Idries Shah

Two Sides, Way, Problem

Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.58, Octagon Press Ltd

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The Path is not to be found anywhere except in human service

Idries Shah

Path, Found, Human Service

Idries Shah (1991). “Seeker After Truth”, p.34, Octagon Press Ltd

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Born: June 16, 1924
Died: November 23, 1996
Occupation: Author
Cite this Page: Citation

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