Ali ibn Abi Talib citations

“Every person who is tempted to go astray, does not deserve punishment.”

“Whoever wants to be a leader should educate himself before educating others. Before preaching to others he should first practice himself. Whoever educates himself and improves his own morals is superior to the man who tries to teach and train others.”

“Remember that this world which you covet so ardently and attempt to acquire so earnestly, and which sometimes annoys you and sometimes pleases you so much, is neither your home nor a permanent destination. You have not been created for it, nor invited to it as your resting-place. It shall neither remain with you for ever, nor will you remain in it eternally. If it has enticed you away with its charrns, it has also warned and cautioned you of real dangers lurking in its folds. Take account of the warnings it has given you and do not be seduced or deceived by its allurements. Let these warnings frighten you from being too greedy to possess it. Try to advance towards the place where you are invited for eternal bliss and turn your face away from the vicious world.”

“Two things cause people to be destroyed: fear of poverty and seeking superiority through pride.”

“Patience is of two kinds: patience over what pains you, and patience against what you covet.”

“I am less than what you tell about me but more than what you think about me”

“Defend your faith (in Allah) with the help of charity. Protect your wealth with the aid of Zakat. Let the prayers guard you from calamities and disasters.”

“O son of Adam, if you have collected anything in excess of your actual need, you will act only as its trustee for someone else to use it.”

“The first fruit of forbearance is that people will sympathize with you and they will go against the man who offended you arrogantly.”

“Adversities often bring good qualities to the front.”

“Oppression and tyranny are the worse companions for the Hereafter.”

“The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget.”

“One who comes into power often oppresses.”

“Avarice dulls the faculties of judgment and wisdom.”

“One of the conveniences in life is to have less children.”

“One who forsakes truth earns eternal damnation.”

“When truth was revealed to me I never doubted it.”

“Do not feel ashamed if the amount of charity is small because to refuse the needy is an act of greater shame.”

“Value of a man depends upon his courage; his veracity depends upon his self-respect and his chastity depends upon his sense of honor.”

“Recommended prayers cannot attain the pleasures of Allah for you when obligatory prayers are left unattended.”

“Not to have a thing is less humiliating than to beg it.”

“The weakest man is the one who is able to correct his moral defects, but doesn't take action.”

“Like your body your mind also gets tired so refresh it by wise sayings.”

“Do not hurry over punishments and do not be pleased and do not be proud of your power to punish.”

“One who rushes madly after inordinate desire, runs the risk of encountering destruction and death.”

“Wealth converts a strange land into homeland and poverty turns a native place into a strange land.”

“During civil disturbance adopt such an attitude that people do not attach any importance to you — they neither burden you with complicated affairs, nor try to derive any advantage out of you.”

“Aid (from Allah) is in proportion to the trouble.”

“Anyone who loves us Ahlul Bayt must be ready to face a life of austerity.”