Ali's Humility

Someone brought a problem to Ali, hoping he would make its answer clear. The commander who bound his enemies and conquered lands answered from knowledge and sound judgment. I heard that a man in that gathering said, 'It is not so, Abul-Hasan.' The renowned Ali took no offense; he said, 'If you know better, then speak.' The man said what he knew, and said it well; you cannot hide the sun's spring behind mud. The king of the brave approved his answer: 'I was wrong, and he was right.' There is one wiser speaker than us, and above his knowledge there is no knowledge. Had a powerful lord been in his place, pride would have kept him from even looking at the man. His doorkeeper would have thrown the man out of the court, and beaten him unjustly, saying, 'From now on, do not shame anyone; it is rude to speak up before the great.' Never imagine that a man with arrogance in his head will listen to the truth. Knowledge wearies him, and he is ashamed of advice; poppies do not grow from stone in the rain. If you hold pearls from the sea of learning, rise and pour your wisdom at the feet of the humble. Do you not see how, from lowly fallen dust, flowers bloom and spring bursts open? Wise one, do not shake out your sleeves of pearls when you see the great man already full of himself. No one rises in others' eyes if he keeps making himself out to be great. Do not boast so that they thank you a thousand times; once you have praised yourself, expect nothing from anyone.