| A. Generosity and the Nature of
Wealth: |
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| 1. |
Generosity
is a quality of the people of paradise. |
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| 2. |
Generosity
and paradise are for the pious; unbelief and greed are
for the children of hell. |
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| 3. |
Generosity
is not just giving money from excess, but rather sharing
with the poor. |
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| 4. |
Generosity
does not consume wealth before it is exhausted, and greed
will not increase a miser’s wealth. |
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| 5. |
Generosity
is the guardian of honor and property. |
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| 6. |
Greed
is a sign of depravity. |
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| 7. |
It is
said that wealth is what you spend, not what you collect,
and crops are what you harvest, not what you sow. |
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| 8. |
Since
wealth is bound to disappear, the best wealth is that
which bestows praise on its owner. |
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| 9. |
Praise
will remain for the valorous as his provision, but wealth
does not remain for the owners. |
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| 10. |
The
most honorable of riches is the abandonment of desire. |
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| 11. |
As for
the generous man, even when his situation changes, his
heart remains noble. |
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| 12. |
You can
deceive the generous man with intrigues; beware of the
miser because he is experienced and will not be deceived. |
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| 13. |
The
miser sees only one purpose for his wealth, but the
generous man sees many purposes for his wealth. |
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| 14. |
He who
believes in recompense is generous in giving. |
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| 15. |
The
valorous one gives not only in prosperity, but in
adversity and prosperity alike. |
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| 16. |
Be
sincere to generous men and loathe greed… |
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| B. Other Types of Virtuous Conduct: |
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| 17. |
Whoever
wears modesty as his garment, his faults are hidden from
the eye. |
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| 18. |
Preserve
your modesty for it points to the action of the noble
man. |
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| 19. |
Humility
is a branch of faith, and faith is in paradise. |
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| 20. |
It is
said that those who are content with their own opinion
run into danger. |
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| 21. |
Surely
he who jests to excess is degraded in his worth. |
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| 22. |
He who
is patient will prevail. |
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| 23. |
Patience
is the key to peace of mind. |
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| 24. |
[Have]
patience before [forming] an opinion. |
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| 25. |
He who
is satisfied with his means is satisfied with his
condition. |
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| 26. |
Deliberation
before action protects you from regret. |
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| 27. |
Deliberation
in speech is wisdom, and speaking after deliberation is
more beautiful. |
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| 28. |
A
foolish person wastes his opportunity, and when he
neglects a matter, he blames fate. |
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| 29. |
The
thankful eater is comparable to the patient faster. |
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| 30. |
He who
talks too much is quick to falter. |
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| 31. |
Safety
lies in silence, and only speech will reveal the inner
side of the man with faults. |
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| 32. |
The
speech of he who speaks is silver, but silence is a ruby
gem. |
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| 33. |
The
noble man is free even if touched by harm. |
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| 34. |
The
noble man does not break promises. |
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| 35. |
The
noble man is righteous. |
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| 36. |
Loyalty
is a habit practiced by few, but self-protection is an
emotion experienced by many. |
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| 37. |
Devotion
fortifies actions. |
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| 38. |
Knowledge
is the most honorable of values. |
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| 39. |
Knowledge
is an ornament for the valorous and reason is a crown of
gold. |
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| 40. |
The
pleasure of one learned man with another is like the
pleasure of a student. |
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| 41. |
Knowledge
is bitter to taste at first, but in the end it is sweeter
than honey. |
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