{"collection":"Islam","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/isl/arw/arw33.htm","path":"isl/arw/arw33.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/isl/arw/arw33.htm","text":"Arabian Wisdom, by John Wortabet, [1913]\nMan is like an ear of wheat shaken by the wind\u2014sometimes up and sometimes down.\nMan is a target to the accidents of time.\nOne day for us, and one day against us.\nWith to-day there is to-morrow.\nTo every Moses there is a Pharaoh.\nThere is no day which has not its opposite.\nThe changes of fortune show what a man is made of.\nThere is no joy which is not followed by sorrow.\nWhen Fortune brings a great good, she follows it by a great evil.\nFortune gives lavishly, and then turns round and takes away.\nWhen a man has attained his highest hope, let him expect that its downfall is near by.\nWhen a thing waxes to perfection it begins rapidly to wane.\nWhen distress reaches its utmost, relief is close at hand.\nWhat is past is dead.\nEvery ascent has a descent, and every trouble has an end.\nDo not worry\u2014between one twinkle of the eye and that which follows it things may change.\nI have looked far and wide, and saw nothing on the faces of men but looks of perplexity or regret.\nTo complain of one's grief, except to God, is an humiliation.\nHe who thinks that Fortune will always favour him is a fool.\nFollow the tracks of the fortunate man and you will come to fortune,","title":"Arabian Wisdom: Vicissitudes of Fortune","type":"page"}