Lecture 3 (a): | ||||
"Functions of Literary Epigraphy on | ||||
Medieval Islamic Ceramics" | ||||
by Dr Oya Pancaroglu |
Appendix: | A
Preliminary List of Proverbs from Samanid Epigraphic Pottery: |
A. Generosity and the Nature of Wealth: | |
1. | Generosity is a quality of the people of paradise. |
2. | Generosity and paradise are for the pious; unbelief and greed are for the children of hell. |
3. | Generosity is not just giving money from excess, but rather sharing with the poor. |
4. | Generosity does not consume wealth before it is exhausted, and greed will not increase a misers wealth. |
5. | Generosity is the guardian of honor and property. |
6. | Greed is a sign of depravity. |
7. | It is said that wealth is what you spend, not what you collect, and crops are what you harvest, not what you sow. |
8. | Since wealth is bound to disappear, the best wealth is that which bestows praise on its owner. |
9. | Praise will remain for the valorous as his provision, but wealth does not remain for the owners. |
10. | The most honorable of riches is the abandonment of desire. |
11. | As for the generous man, even when his situation changes, his heart remains noble. |
12. | You can deceive the generous man with intrigues; beware of the miser because he is experienced and will not be deceived. |
13. | The miser sees only one purpose for his wealth, but the generous man sees many purposes for his wealth. |
14. | He who believes in recompense is generous in giving. |
15. | The valorous one gives not only in prosperity, but in adversity and prosperity alike. |
16. | Be sincere to generous men and loathe greed |
B. Other Types of Virtuous Conduct: | |
17. | Whoever wears modesty as his garment, his faults are hidden from the eye. |
18. | Preserve your modesty for it points to the action of the noble man. |
19. | Humility is a branch of faith, and faith is in paradise. |
20. | It is said that those who are content with their own opinion run into danger. |
21. | Surely he who jests to excess is degraded in his worth. |
22. | He who is patient will prevail. |
23. | Patience is the key to peace of mind. |
24. | [Have] patience before [forming] an opinion. |
25. | He who is satisfied with his means is satisfied with his condition. |
26. | Deliberation before action protects you from regret. |
27. | Deliberation in speech is wisdom, and speaking after deliberation is more beautiful. |
28. | A foolish person wastes his opportunity, and when he neglects a matter, he blames fate. |
29. | The thankful eater is comparable to the patient faster. |
30. | He who talks too much is quick to falter. |
31. | Safety lies in silence, and only speech will reveal the inner side of the man with faults. |
32. | The speech of he who speaks is silver, but silence is a ruby gem. |
33. | The noble man is free even if touched by harm. |
34. | The noble man does not break promises. |
35. | The noble man is righteous. |
36. | Loyalty is a habit practiced by few, but self-protection is an emotion experienced by many. |
37. | Devotion fortifies actions. |
38. | Knowledge is the most honorable of values. |
39. | Knowledge is an ornament for the valorous and reason is a crown of gold. |
40. | The pleasure of one learned man with another is like the pleasure of a student. |
41. | Knowledge is bitter to taste at first, but in the end it is sweeter than honey. |