“Scholars of the East and West have heroically consecrated their whole working lives to making available, by means of their own disciplines, Sufi literary and philosophical material to the world at large. In many cases they have faithfully recorded the Sufis' own reiteration that the Way of the Sufis cannot be understood by means of the intellect or by ordinary book learning.”

“The Sufis are unanimous that a Guide (Sheikh) is absolutely essential, though never available on demand: 'the Sufis are not merchants'.”

“The Sufi way is through knowledge and practice, not through intellect and talk.”

“It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.”

“The sufis believe that they can experience something more complete.”

“The union of the mind and intuition which brings about illumination, and the development which the Sufis seek, is based upon love.”

“Materialism, attachment to things of the world, includes pride. Many religious people suffer from pride: taking pleasure or even delight in being good, or religious.”