One who had for a considerable time not seen his friend asked him where he had been and said he had been longing. He replied: ‘To be longing is better than to be satisfied.’ <br /> <br /> Thou hast come late, O intoxicated idol, <br /> We shall not soon let go thy skirt from the hand. <br /> He who sees his sweetheart at long intervals <br /> Is after all better off than if he sees too much of her. <br /> When thou comest with friends to visit me <br /> Although thou comest in peace thou art attacking. <br /> If my sweetheart associates one moment with strangers <br /> It wants but little and I die of jealousy. <br /> She said smiling: ‘I am the lamp of the assembly, O Sa’di, <br /> What is it to me if a moth kills itself?’<br /><br />Saadi Shirazi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ch-05-on-love-and-youth-story-07/
