Quotes from The Sufis

“It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“The sufis believe that they can experience something more complete.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Deep in the sea are riches beyond compare. But if you seek safety, it is on the shore.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Sufism, the "secret tradition," is not available on the basis of assumptions which belong to another world, the world of intellect.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Like the bat, the Sufi is asleep to 'things of the day' - the familiar struggle for existence which the ordinary man finds all-important - and vigilant while others are asleep. In other words, he keeps awake the spiritual attention dormant in others. That 'mankind sleeps in a nightmare of unfulfillment' is a commonplace of Sufi literature”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“The function of a nutrient is to become transmuted, not to leave unaltered traces.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“among roses, be a rose, among thorns, be a thorn”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Scholars of the East and West have heroically consecrated their whole working lives to making available, by means of their own disciplines, Sufi literary and philosophical material to the world at large. In many cases they have faithfully recorded the Sufis' own reiteration that the Way of the Sufis cannot be understood by means of the intellect or by ordinary book learning.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“إن المتصوفة انتقلوا بالحضور الأنثوي للمرأة، روحيا وجسديا إلى الفضاء الجمالي، وأصبحت المرأة هي المجلى الأكمل للجمال الإلهي المطلق.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“It is axiomatic that the attempt to become a Sufi through a desire for personal power as normally understood will not succeed.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“If you will not reprove yourself,’ Saadi says, ‘you will not welcome reproof from another.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“The Way of the Sufis cannot be understood by means of the intellect or by ordinary book learning.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“The secret protects itself. It is found only in the spirit and practice of the Work.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“The basic urge toward mysticism is never, in the unaltered man, clear enough to be recognized for what it is.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Lo Aparente es el Puente hacia lo Real’.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Practise your knowledge, for knowledge without practice is a body without life”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Take the wheat, not the measure in which it is contained”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Es necesario notar – dice Rumi – que cosas antagónicas trabajan juntas, aunque nominalmente sean opuestas.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Sufism is known by means of itself.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“When you are still fragmentated, lacking certainty — what difference does it make what your decisions are?”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“El camino de los sufis no puede ser comprendido valiéndose del intelecto o mediante el común aprendizaje a través de libros.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“He who is fortunately enlightened [the Sufi]
Knows that sophistry is from the devil and love from Adam.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“The totality of life cannot be understood, so runs Sufi teaching, if it is studied only through the methods which we use in everyday living.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Aquel que es afortunadamente iluminado (el Sufi)
Sabe que la sofistería procede del diablo, y el amor de Adán.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“Según la enseñanza Sufi, no es posible entender la vida en su totalidad si se la analiza según los métodos utilizados en nuestra cotidianidad.”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

“The Apparent is the Bridge to the Real”
― Idries Shah, quote from The Sufis

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Popular quotes

“The face towels had been excellent value and just what Margaret wanted, the space gun for Robby and the rabbit for Jean were highly satisfactory, and that evening coatee was just the thing she herself needed, warm but dressy. The pullover for Hector, too…her mind dwelt with approval on the soundness of her purchases.”
― Agatha Christie, quote from 4:50 from Paddington

“We will never be happy until we make God the source of our fulfillment and the answer to our longings. He is the only one who should have power over our souls.”
― Stormie Omartian, quote from The Power of a Praying Woman

“I’m still the kid dreaming of the lives she’ll never have but guess what? Maybe she doesn’t want them.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye, quote from Honeybee: Poems Short Prose

“Ah yes, the people concerned. That is very important. You remember, perhaps, who they were?’

Depleach considered.

‘Let me see-it’s a long time ago. There were only five people who were really in it, so to speak-I’m not counting the servants-a couple of faithful old things, scared-looking creatures-they didn’t know anything about anything. No one could suspect them.’

‘There are five people, you say. Tell me about them.’

‘Well, there was Philip Blake. He was Crale’s greatest friend-had known him all his life. He was staying in the house at the time.He’s alive. I see him now and again on the links. Lives at St George’s Hill. Stockbroker. Plays the markets and gets away with it. Successful man, running to fat a bit.’

‘Yes. And who next?’

‘Then there was Blake’s elder brother. Country squire-stay at home sort of chap.’

A jingle ran through Poirot’s head. He repressed it. He mustnot always be thinking of nursery rhymes. It seemed an obsession with him lately. And yet the jingle persisted.

‘This little pig went to market, this little pig stayed at home…’

He murmured:

‘He stayed at home-yes?’

‘He’s the fellow I was telling you about-messed about with drugs-and herbs-bit of a chemist. His hobby. What was his name now? Literary sort of name-I’ve got it. Meredith. Meredith Blake. Don’t know whether he’s alive or not.’

‘And who next?’

‘Next? Well, there’s the cause of all the trouble. The girl in the case. Elsa Greer.’

‘This little pig ate roast beef,’ murmured Poirot.

Depleach stared at him.

‘They’ve fed her meat all right,’ he said. ‘She’s been a go-getter. She’s had three husbands since then. In and out of the divorce court as easy as you please. And every time she makes a change, it’s for the better. Lady Dittisham-that’s who she is now. Open anyTatler and you’re sure to find her.’

‘And the other two?’

‘There was the governess woman. I don’t remember her name. Nice capable woman. Thompson-Jones-something like that. And there was the child. Caroline Crale’s half-sister. She must have been about fifteen. She’s made rather a name for herself. Digs up things and goes trekking to the back of beyond. Warren-that’s her name. Angela Warren. Rather an alarming young woman nowadays. I met her the other day.’

‘She is not, then, the little pig who cried Wee Wee Wee…?’

Sir Montague Depleach looked at him rather oddly. He said drily:

‘She’s had something to cry Wee-Wee about in her life! She’s disfigured, you know. Got a bad scar down one side of her face. She-Oh well, you’ll hear all about it, I dare say.’

Poirot stood up. He said:

‘I thank you. You have been very kind. If Mrs Crale didnot kill her husband-’

Depleach interrupted him:

‘But she did, old boy, she did. Take my word for it.’

Poirot continued without taking any notice of the interruption.

‘Then it seems logical to suppose that one of these five people must have done so.’

‘One of themcould have done it, I suppose,’ said Depleach, doubtfully. ‘But I don’t see why any of themshould. No reason at all! In fact, I’m quite sure none of themdid do it. Do get this bee out of your bonnet, old boy!’

But Hercule Poirot only smiled and shook his head.”
― Agatha Christie, quote from Five Little Pigs

“¿Qué fue de aquel tío, de Christian, a todo esto?
—Lo rechacé amablemente cuando me llamó para quedar de nuevo.
—Debería decir «pobre chico», pero tuve que aguantar cinco años deseándote sin tenerte.”
― Samantha Young, quote from Until Fountain Bridge

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BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, memorable and interesting quotes from great books. As the world communicates more and more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become more relevant and important. For some of us a quote becomes a mantra, a goal or a philosophy by which we live. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the author’s best ideas.

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