One of the elders of a small village was asked, "Why do you avoid mentioning your hometown now that you have achieved greatness and status?" He replied:
"When I was a child, the people of our village were known for simplicity and ignorance. Whenever someone heard the name of my …

A man spoke to a dream interpreter: "In my dream, I was making a dish from camel dung. What does it mean?" The interpreter replied, "Give me two coins, and I'll tell you its meaning." The man said, "If I had two coins, I would have bought eggplants instead of …

An old woman was asked whether she preferred the village or a penis. She replied, "I cannot have conversations with the villagers, nor can I listen to them."

A man in Kashan sold a donkey. The clerk wanted to write a receipt and asked the broker, "What is your name?" He replied, "Abu Bakr." The clerk then asked, "What is your father's name?" He replied, "Omar." The clerk further inquired, "What is your grandfather's name?" He replied, "Uthman." …

A Hamadani man was going to his house when he saw a handsome young man coming out of his home. He got angry and said, "Curse this life you live! What does it mean to go to another man's house every day? Until your life ends, you too should desire …

Sultan Mahmud attended a sermon, and Talhak followed him there. When they arrived, the preacher was saying that on the Day of Judgment, anyone who has molested a boy will be made to carry him on their back to cross the Sirat Bridge. Sultan Mahmud began to weep. Talhak said, …

The book of Golestan is completed, and by the grace of God, its success is ensured. In this work, as is customary among authors, I have not borrowed metaphors from the poetry of predecessors.

It is better to mend one's own old cloak

Than to seek a borrowed garment.

Most …

Two people died with regret: one who had and did not enjoy, and the other who knew and did not act.

No one sees a stingy scholar

Without trying to find faults in him,

But if a generous person has two hundred faults,

His generosity covers all his flaws.

A sage was asked: Among the many renowned trees created by God, none has been called 'free' except for the cypress, which bears no fruit. What is the wisdom in this?

The sage replied: Every tree has a specific fruit that appears at a certain time, making it fresh, and …

What can an old harlot do but continue in her wickedness, and what can a deposed sheriff do but continue in his cruelty?

A young recluse is a brave man on the path of God,

For an old man cannot rise from his corner.

A young man must strongly avoid …

Everyone's teeth become sensitive to sourness except for judges, whose teeth become sensitive to sweetness.

When a judge takes a bribe of five cucumbers,

He will confirm for you ten melon fields.

The king exists to suppress oppressors, the sheriff for dealing with bloodthirsty criminals, and the judge for negotiating with thieves. Never do two adversaries willingly go before a judge.

When you know that justice must be given,

It is better to do so with kindness than with war and distress. …