Sayings · The destructive consequences of greed and unfulfilled desires

al-Sharif al-Radi (d. 406 AH) · Thaqalayn library edition, reproduced verbatim

2

Arabic text

٢٧٥. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): إِنَّ الطَّمَعَ مُورِدٌ غَيْرُ مُصْدِرٍ وَضَامِنٌ غَيْرُ وَفِيٍّ وَرُبَّمَا شَرِقَ شَارِبُ الْمَاءِ قَبْلَ رِيِّهِ وَكُلَّمَا عَظُمَ قَدْرُ الشَّيْ‏ءِ الْمُتَنَافَسِ فِيهِ عَظُمَتِ الرَّزِيَّةُ لِفَقْدِهِ وَالْأَمَانِيُّ تُعْمِى أَعْيُنَ الْبَصَائِرِ وَالْحَظُّ يَأْتِى مَنْ لَا يَأْتِيهِ.

Original English translation

275. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Greed takes a person to the watering place but gets him back without letting him drink. It undertakes responsibility but does not fulfil it. Often the drinker gets choked before the quenching of his thirst. The greater the worth of a thing yearned for the greater is the grief for its loss. Desires blind the eyes of understanding. The destined share will reach him who does not approach it.

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