about life

"One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."

"Do not be too timid and squeamish about your reactions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs."

The noblest character is stained by the addition of pride. 

If there is anything good about nobility it is that it enforces the necessity of avoiding degeneracy. 

Be noble in every thought And in every deed! 

Noble by birth, yet nobler by great deeds.

There is nothing noble in being superior to some other person. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self. 

Life ought to be a struggle of desire toward adventures whose nobility will fertilize the soul. 

“A noble person attracts noble people, and knows how to hold on to them.”

“True nobility is exempt from fear.”

“Be noble! And the nobleness that lies in other men, sleeping, but never dead, will rise in majesty to meet thine own”

Patience inspires him to be tolerant, control his anger, endure the harms that he receives from others, to be forbearing and deliberate in his decisions. It motivates him to be gentle and not to be rash or hasty.

Chastity, inspires him to avoid every imprudent characteristic, whether in statement or action, and encourages him to have a sense of modesty and integrity which is the epitome of all good. It prevents him from fornication, stinginess, lying, backbiting and spreading tales to cause separation and discord between the people.

Courage inspires him to have a sense of self esteem, to emphasize high and noble manners and to make it apart of his natural disposition. It also encourages him to exert himself and to be generous, which is in essence, true courage and it leads to strong will and self determination. It encourages him to distance himself from his ardent lowly desires, to control his anger, and to be forbearing because by such, he can control his temper, take it by the reins and curb his violent and destructive behaviour just as the Messenger (Sallahu alaihi wa salam) said:

“The Strong is not the one who can wrestle his opponent to the ground but rather the strong is the one who can control himself when he gets angry.”

This is true genuine courage and it is the sole trait that the slave utilizes to conquer his opponent.

Justice, encourages him to be impartial in his behaviour with people and to be moderate between the two extremes of negligence and extremism. It motivates him to be generous and kind which is the middle course between absolute degradation and arrogance, and to make this apart of his disposition and makeup. It encourages him to be courageous which is the middle course between cowardice and imprudence, and to be forbearing which is the middle course between extreme unnecessary anger and ignominy.

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."