Rumi, The Essential Rumi

"God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites so that you will have two wings to fly, not one"

"Don't try to steer the boat. Don't open shop for yourself. Listen. Keep silent. You are not God's mouthpiece. Try to be an ear, And if you do speak, ask for explanations."

"You're water. We're the millstone.You're wind. We're dust blown up into shapes.You're spirit. We're the opening and closing of our hands. You're the clarity.We're the language that tries to say it.You're joy. We're all the different kinds of laughing."

"There is a secret medicine given only to those who hurt so hard they can't hope.The hopers would feel slighted if they knew."

"Be empty of worrying.Think of who created thought!Why do you stay in prisonWhen the door is so wide open?"

"God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites so that you will have two wings to fly, not one"

"You have forgotten the Onewho doesn't care about ownership,who doesn't try to turn a profitfrom every human exchange."

"Knowledge that is acquiredis not like this. Those who have it worry ifaudiences like it or not.It's a bait for popularity.Disputational knowing wants customers.It has no soul...The only real customer is God.Chew quietlyyour sweet sugarcane God-Love, and stayplayfully childish."

"When you go through a hard period,When everything seems to oppose you,... When you feel you cannot even bear one more minute,NEVER GIVE UP!Because it is the time and place that the course will divert!"

"Be melting snow.Wash yourself of yourself."

"This poetry. I never know what I'm going to say.I don't plan it.When I'm outside the saying of it,I get very quiet and rarely speak at all."

"Knowledge that is acquiredis not like this. Those who have it worry ifaudiences like it or not.It's a bait for popularity.Disputational knowing wants customers.It has no soul...The only real customer is God.Chew quietlyyour sweet sugarcane God-Love, and stayplayfully childish."

"God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites so that you will have two wings to fly, not one"

"Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth."