Quotes by Idries Shah

About Idries Shah:

Idries Shah was an author and teacher in the Sufi tradition who wrote over three dozen books on topics ranging from psychology and spirituality to travelogues and culture studies.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Laziness - The laziness of adolescence is a rehearsal for the incapacity of old age.

Idries Shah

A man is deficient in understanding until he perceives that there is a whole cycle of evolution possible within himself: repeating endlessly, offering opportunities for personal development.

Idries Shah

Water shrinks wool, urgency shrinks time. Shrinkage may be an advantage or the reverse, according to expectation.

Idries Shah

The proverb says that 'The answer to a fool is silence'. Observation, however, indicates that almost any other answer will have the same effect in the long run.

Idries Shah

A motto of the human race: Let me do as I like, and give me approval as well.

Idries Shah

The word 'choice' is a fraud while people choose only what they have been taught to choose.

Idries Shah

Enemies are often former or potential friends who have been denied - or think that they have been denied - something.

Idries Shah

The laziness of adolescence is a rehearsal for the incapacity of old age.

Idries Shah

If, from time to time, you give up expectation, you will be able to perceive what it is you are getting.

Idries Shah

Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right effort, right time, right people, right materials.

Idries Shah

History is not usually what has happened. History is what some people have thought to be significant.

Idries Shah

Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?

Idries Shah

From time to time ponder whether you are unconsciously saying: 'Truth is what I happen to be thinking at this moment.

Idries Shah

Because there is a word for perfection, people will always imagine that they know it.

Idries Shah

What is sometimes thought to be clever is, significantly often, merely an advanced form of foolishness.

Idries Shah

People today are in danger of drowning in information; but, because they have been taught that information is useful, they are more willing to drown than they need be. If they could handle information, they would not have to drown at all.

Idries Shah

Opinion is usually something which people have when they lack comprehensive information.

Idries Shah

Dicho del Profeta La Gente: En la gente se encuentra la familia de Dios.

Idries Shah

None should say: 'I can trust' or 'I cannot trust' until he is a master of the option, of trusting or not trusting.

Idries Shah

If you give what can be taken, you are not really giving. Take what you are given, not what you want to be given. Give what cannot be taken.

Idries Shah

Enlightenment must come little by little - otherwise it would overwhelm.

Idries Shah

Author Bio

  • NameIdries Shah
  • DescriptionWriter and Sufi teacher
  • BornJune 16, 1924
  • DiedNovember 23, 1996
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • ProfessionWriter