Galenus saw a fool hanging on with his hands to the collar of a learned man and insulting him, whereon he said: ‘If he were learned he would not have come to this pass with an ignorant man.’ <br /> <br /> Two wise men do not contend and quarrel <br /> Nor does a scholar fight with a contemptible fellow. <br /> If an ignorant man in his rudeness speaks harshly <br /> An intelligent man tenderly reconciles his heart. <br /> Two pious men keep a hair between them untorn <br /> And so does a mild with a headstrong man. <br /> If however both sides are fools <br /> If there be a chain they will snap it. <br /> An ill-humoured man insulted someone. <br /> He bore it and replied: ‘O man of happy issue, <br /> I am worse than thou canst say that I am <br /> Because I know thou art not aware of my faults as I am.<br /><br />Saadi Shirazi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ch-04-on-the-advantages-of-silence-story-05/
