A pious man saw an acrobat in great dudgeon, full of wrath and foaming at the mouth. He asked: ‘What is the matter with this fellow?’ A bystander said: ‘Someone has insulted him.’ He remarked: ‘This base wretch is able to lift a thousand mann of stones and has not the power to bear one word.’ <br /> <br /> Abandon thy claim to strength and manliness. <br /> Thou art weak-minded and base, whether thou be a man or woman. <br /> If thou art able, make a sweet mouth. <br /> It is not manliness to strike the fist on a mouth. <br /> Although able to tear up an elephant’s front <br /> He is not a man who possessed no humanity. <br /> A man’s nature is of earth. <br /> If he is not humble he is not a man.<br /><br />Saadi Shirazi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ch-02-the-morals-of-dervishes-story-43/
