Chương 6: Saying Number 6

Amīr al-mu'minīn Imam Ali (as), peace be upon him, said:

The bosom of the wise is the safe of his secrets;

cheerfulness is the bond of friendship;

effective forbearance is the grave of short-comings.

It is narrated that Amir al-mu'minin said in expressing this meaning that:

Mutual reconciliation is the covering for shortcomings; and he who admires himself attracts many opponents against him. 2

2. In the last phrase, Amir al-mu'minin has described the consequences and effects resulting from self-admiration namely that it creates the feeling of hatred and humiliation-against others. Thus, the man who manifests his greatness by every pretext in order to make himself conspicuous is never regarded with esteem. People begin to despise him because of his mental condition in seeking self-conspicuity and are not prepared to accord him the worth which he really has, much less to regard him as he himself thinks to be.