Rumi's Little Book of Wisdom

Life-changing wisdom from the popular Persian sage and poet

This is a collection of inspirational wisdom for living a meaningful and productive life. The selection of quotations is chosen to reflect Rumi’s inspiring and uplifting approach to life and address the inevitable issues that we encounter during our lifetimes.

Here, Rumi talks directly to us, just as he did to his contemporaries 800 years ago. The wisdom includes no-nonsense statements, observations, and facts, ranging from matters of the heart, to understanding human nature, to embracing the nature of the divine. The end result is an extended meditation on how to live one’s life with meaning, productivity, and kindness.

This new translation of Rumi’s wisdom is fresh, contemporary, and practical. It will appeal to the many who have loved his poetry, those who need a dose of daily inspiration, spiritual seekers, and those looking for traditional Sufi wisdom.

Selections from Rumi’s Little Book of Wisdom:

“People always fall in love with what they can’t have. They readily give up their freedom in order to own what they can’t understand; and they never fully appreciate what they’ve rightfully owned from the beginning.”

“There is never a moment when we’re not in love. Every hour there might be a new love: the love of sleep, love of rest, love of the harp, or simply love of beauty. When we feel enveloped by these feelings, we know we’re enveloped by Love.”

“What a shame to finally reach the open sea but settle for a modest jug of water!"

About the Authors:

Rumi (Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi) was a 13th-century Persian Sunni Muslim poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic.

Maryam Mafi was born and raised in Iran. She graduated from Tufts University in 1981, where she studied Sociology and Literature. While reading for her master’s degree in international communications at American and Georgetown Universities she began translating Persian literature and has been doing so ever since. Maryam lives in London.

Narguess Farzad is a senior fellow in Persian studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.