Idries Shah Quotes - Page 2

Quotes about:

• 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 tomorrow comes, think tomorrow's thoughts.

  Idries Shah

  Thinking, Tomorrow

  Idries Shah (2016). “The Dermis Probe”, p.85, ISF Publishing

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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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• People used to play with toys. Now the toys play with them.

  Idries Shah

  Play, People, Toys

  Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.145, Octagon Press Ltd

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• Anybody or anything may stand between you and knowledge if you are unfit for it.

  Idries Shah

  May, Ifs

  Idries Shah (1978). “Learning how to Learn: Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way”, p.159, Octagon Press Ltd

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• Sometimes a pessimist is only an optimist with extra information.

  Idries Shah

  Information, Sometimes, Pessimist

  Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.134, Octagon Press Ltd

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• The union of the mind and intuition which brings about illumination, and the development which the Sufis seek, is based upon love.

  Idries Shah

  Illumination, Intuition, Mind

  Idries Shah (1999). “The Sufis”, p.129, 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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• 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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• You have not forgotten to remember; You have remembered to forget. But people can forget to forget. That is just as important as remembering to remember - and generally more practical.

  Idries Shah

  Remember You, Remembers You, People

  Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.145, 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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• 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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• Have you noticed how many people who walk in the shade curse the Sun?

  Idries Shah

  Healing, People, Teens

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

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• Do not try to be humble: learn humility.

  Idries Shah

  Humble, Humility, Trying

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• But one may say something and yet not be able to do it. Try, for instance, lifting yourself up by the bootstraps.

  Idries Shah

  Trying, May, Able

  Idries Shah (1990). “Sufi Thought and Action”, p.5, Octagon Press Ltd

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• The proverb says that 'The answer to a fool is silence'. Observation, however, indicates that almost any other answer will have the same effect in the long run.

  Idries Shah

  Running, Long, Silence

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

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• When a belief becomes more than an instrument, you are lost. You remain lost until you learn what 'belief' is really for.

  Idries Shah

  Belief, Lost, Instruments

  Idries Shah (2017). “Learning How to Learn”, p.77, ISF Publishing

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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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• You must empty out the dirty water before you fill the pitcher with clean.

  Idries Shah

  Dirty, Water, Empty

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• If your desire for 'good' is based on greed, it is not good, but greed.

  Idries Shah

  Greed, Desire, Ifs

  Idries Shah (1978). “Learning how to Learn: Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way”, p.91, Octagon Press Ltd

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• When Fortune knocks, open the door,' they say. But why should one make fortune knock, by keeping the door shut?

  Idries Shah

  Doors, Should, Fortune

  Idries Shah (1988). “Caravan of Dreams”, p.220, Octagon Press Ltd

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• Enemies are often former or potential friends who have been denied - or think that they have been denied - something.

  Idries Shah

  Thinking, Enemy, Originality

  Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.124, Octagon Press Ltd

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• A generous person may not have wisdom: but, unlike others, he has the means to gain it.

  Idries Shah

  Mean, Generosity, May

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

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• The impatient man is his own enemy; he slams the door on his own progress.

  Idries Shah

  Men, Doors, Enemy

  Idries Shah (1997). “The Commanding Self”, p.81, Octagon Press Ltd

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