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In dire need of a stout dose of sound advice? Shake the doldrums and get back on track by dipping into W. A. Clouston's fascinating Book of Wise Sayings. Bringing together bon mots and aphorisms from around the world, this volume can soothe the soul in troubled times or provide philosophical fodder for a lively discussion.

Sujets

Mind

Body

Spirit

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 février 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776530595
Langue	English

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BOOK OF WISE SAYINGS
SELECTED LARGELY FROM EASTERN SOURCES
* * *
Edited by
W. A. CLOUSTON

*
Book of Wise Sayings Selected Largely from Eastern Sources First published in 1893 Epub ISBN 978-1-77653-059-5 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77653-060-1 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Book of Wise Sayings Preface Sayings 1 to 100 Sayings 101 to 200 Sayings 201 to 300 Sayings 301 to 400 Sayings 401 to 500 Sayings 501 to 589 Endnotes
Book of Wise Sayings
*
SELECTED LARGELY FROM EASTERN SOURCES
"Concise sentences, like darts, fly abroad and make impressions, while long discourses are tedious and not regarded."—BACON.
"Many are the sayings of the wise, In ancient and in modern books enrolled."—MILTON.
To
FRANCIS THORNTON BARRETT,
CHIEF LIBRARIAN, MITCHELL LIBRARY, GLASGOW,
THIS LITTLE BOOK,
WITH FRIENDLY GREETINGS,
IS INSCRIBED.
Preface
*
Cynics may ask, how many have profited by the innumerable proverbsand maxims of prudence which have been current in the world time outof mind? They will say that their only use is to repeat them aftersome unhappy wight has "gone wrong." When, for instance, a man hasplayed "ducks and drakes" with his money, the fact at once calls upthe proverb which declares that "wilful waste leads to woful want";but did not the "waster" know this well-worn saying from his earlyyears downwards ? What good, then, did it do him? Again, how manyhave been benefited by the saying of the ancient Greek poet, that"evil communications corrupt good manners"?—albeit they had itfrequently before them in their school "copy-books." Are the maximsof morality useless, then, because they are so much disregarded?
When a man has reached middle-age he generally feels with tenfoldforce the truth of those "sayings of the wise" which he learned inhis early years, and has cause to regret, as well as wonder, that hehad not all along followed their wholesome teaching. For it is tothe young, who are about to cross the threshold of active life, thatsuch terse convincing sentences are more especially addressed, and,spite of the proverbial heedlessness of youth, there will be foundmany who are not deaf to this kind of instruction, if their moralenvironment be favourable. But, even after the spring-time of youthis past, there are occasions when the mind is peculiarly susceptibleto the force of a pithy maxim, which may tend to the reforming ofone's way of life. There is commonly more practical wisdom in astriking aphorism than in a round dozen of "goody" books—that is tosay, books which are not good in the highest sense, because theirthemes are overlaid with commonplace and wearisome reflections.
May we not find the "whole duty of man" condensed into a few briefsentences, which have been expressed by thoughtful men in all agesand in countries far apart?—such as: "Love thy neighbour asthyself," "Do unto others as ye would that they should do unto you."The chief themes of all teachers of morality are: benevolence andbeneficence; tolerance of the opinions of others; self-control; theacquisition of knowledge—that jewel beyond price; the true uses ofwealth; the advantages of resolute, manly exertion; the dignity oflabour; the futility of worldly pleasures; the fugacity of time;man's individual insignificance. They are never weary of inculcatingtaciturnity in preference to loquacity, and the virtues of patienceand resignation. They iterate and reiterate the fact that truehappiness is to be found only in contentment; and they administerconsolation and infuse hope by reminding us that as dark days arefollowed by bright days, so times of bitter adversity are followedby seasons of sweet prosperity; and thus, like the immortal SirHudibras, when "in doleful dumps", we may "cheer ourselves with endsof verse, and sayings of philosophers."
In the following small selection of aphorisms, a considerableproportion are drawn from Eastern literature. Indian wisdom isrepresented by passages from the great epics, the Mahábhárata andthe Rámáyana ; the Panchatantra and the Hitopadesa , twoSanskrit versions of the famous collection of apologues known inEurope as the Fables of Bidpaï, or Pilpay; the Dharma-sastra ofManu; Bháravi, Mágha, Bhartrihari, and other Hindu poets. Specimensof the mild teachings of Buddha and his more notable followers aretaken from the Dhammapada (Path of Virtue) and other canonicalworks; pregnant sayings of the Jewish Fathers, from the Talmud;Moslem moral philosophy is represented by extracts from Arabic andPersian writers (among the great poets of Persia are, Firdausí,Sa'dí, Háfiz, Nizámí, Omar Khayyám, Jámí); while the proverbialwisdom of the Chinese and the didactic writings of the sages ofBurmah are also occasionally cited.
The ordinary reader will probably be somewhat surprised to discoverin the aphorisms of the ancient Greeks and Hindus several closeparallels to the doctrines of the Old and New Testaments, and hewill have reasoned justly if he conclude that the so-called"heathens" could have derived their spiritual light only from thesame Source as that which inspired the Hebrew prophets and theChristian apostles.
Among English writers of aphorisms Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, ispre-eminent, but none of his pithy sentences find place here,because they are procurable in many inexpensive forms, ( e.g. , Counsels from my Lord Bacon , 1892), and must be familiar to what istermed "the average general reader." The Enchiridion of FrancesQuarles and the Resolves of Owen Feltham are, however, laid undercontribution, as also Robert Chamberlain, an author who is probablyunknown to many pluming themselves on their thorough acquaintancewith English literature, some of whose aphorisms (published in 1638,under the title of Nocturnal Lucubrations ) I have deemed worthy ofreproduction.
In more modern times, with the sole exception of William Hazlitt,our country has produced no very successful writer of aphorisms.Colton's Lacon; or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Thosewho Think , went through several editions soon after its firstpublication in 1820; it is described by Mr. John Morley—and notunfairly—as being "so vapid, so wordy, so futile as to have a placeamong those books which dispense with parody"; it is "an awfulexample to anyone who is tempted to try his hand at an aphorism."Mr. Morley is hardly less severe in speaking of the "Thoughts" in Theophrastus Such : "the most insufferable of all deadly-livelyprosing in our sublunary world." However this may be, assuredlyother works of the author of Adam Bede will be found to furnishmany examples of admirable apothegms.
It only remains to add that, bearing in mind that a great collectionof gravities commonly proves quite as wearisome reading as a largecompilation of gaieties, or facetiæ, I have confined my selection of"sayings of the wise" within the limits of a pocket-volume.
W. A. C.
Sayings 1 to 100
*
1.
The enemies which rise within the body, hard to be overcome—thyevil passions—should manfully be fought: he who conquers these isequal to the conquerors of worlds.
Bháravi.
2.
If passion gaineth the mastery over reason, the wise will not countthee amongst men.
Firdausí.
3.
Knowledge is destroyed by associating with the base; with equalsequality is gained, and with the distinguished, distinction.
Hitopadesa.
4.
Dost thou desire that thine own heart should not suffer, redeem thouthe sufferer from the bonds of misery.
Sa'dí.
5.
To friends and eke to foes true kindness show; No kindly heart unkindly deeds will do; Harshness will alienate a bosom friend. And kindness reconcile a deadly foe.
Omar Khayyám.
6.
There is no greater grief in misery than to turn our thoughts backto happier times. [1]
Dante.
7.
We in reality only know when we doubt a little. With knowledge comesdoubt.
Goethe.
8.
In the hour of adversity be not without hope, for crystal rain fallsfrom black clouds.
Nizámí.
9.
One common origin unites us all, but every sort of wood does notgive the perfume of the lignum aloes.
Arabic.
10.
I asked an experienced elder who had profited by his knowledge ofthe world, "What course should I pursue to obtain prosperity?" Hereplied, "Contentment—if you are able, practise contentment."
Selman.
11.
Every moment that a man may be in want of employment, than such Ihold him to be far better who is forced to labour for nothing.
Afghan.
12.
The foolish undertake a trifling act, and soon desist, discouraged;wise men engage in mighty works, and persevere.
Mágha.
13.
Those who wish well towards their friends disdain to please themwith words which are not true.
Bháravi.
14.
Reason is captive in the hands of the passions, as a weak man in thehands of an artful woman.
Sa'dí.
15.
Like an earthen pot, a bad man is easily broken, and cannot readilybe restored to his former situation; but a virtuous man, like a vaseof gold, is broken with difficulty, and easily repaired.
Hitopadesa.
16.
The son who delights his father by his good actions; the wife whoseeks only her husband's good; the friend who is the same inprosperity and adversity—these three things are the reward ofvirtue.
Bhartrihari.
17.
Let us not overstrain our abilities, or we shall do nothing withgrace. A clown, whatever he may do, will never pass for a gentleman.
La Fontaine.
18.
To abstain from speaking is regarded as very difficult. It is notpossible to say much that is v