Abū-Muhammad Muslih al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī, Saadi Shirazi (Persian: ابومحمد مصلح الدین بن عبدالله شیرازی, Arabic: سعدي الشيرازي) better known by his pen-name as Saʿdī (Persian: سعدی) or simply Saadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but has also been quoted in western sources. He is recognized for the quality of his writings and for the depth of his social and moral thoughts. Saadi is widely recognized as one of the greatest masters of the classical literary tradition.
His best known works are Bostan (The Orchard) completed in 1257 and Gulistan (The Rose Garden) in 1258. Bostan is entirely in verse (epic metre) and consists of stories aptly illustrating the standard virtues recommended to Muslims (justice, liberality, modesty, contentment) as well as of reflections on the behaviour of dervishes and their ecstatic practices. Gulistan is mainly in prose and contains stories and personal anecdotes. The text is interspersed with a variety of short poems, containing aphorisms, advice, and humorous reflections. Saadi demonstrates a profound awareness of the absurdity of human existence. The fate of those who depend on the changeable moods of kings is contrasted with the freedom of the dervishes.
“هوشم ببر زمانی… تا کی غم زمانه”
“اگر این درنده خویی ز طبیعتت بمیردهمه عمر زنده باشی به روان آدمیت”
“قالَ لــي المحبــوبُ لمّا زرتُهُ - مَنْ ببابي؟ قلـتُ: بالبابِ أنَـــاقال لــي: أخطأتَ تعريفَ الهوى - حينمــا فــرّقتَ فيــه بَيْنَنَاومضـــى عــــامٌ فلمّا جئتُـــهُ - أطرُقُ البــابَ عليـــه مُوهِنَــاقال لي: مَنْ أنتَ؟ قلتُ: انْظُرْ فما - ثَـــمّ إلّا أنتَ بالبـابِ هُنَـاقال لي: أحسـنتَ تعريفَ الهوى - وَعَــرَفتَ الـحُــب فادخُل يا أنَا”
“An enemy to whom you show kindness becomes your friend, excepting lust, the indulgence of which increases its enmity.”
“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”
“خبرت هستکه بی روی توآرامم نیست”
“ما را غم تو برد به سودا، تو را که برد؟”