Sufyan al-Thawri

"Renunciation of the world is reduction of hope for worldly gain, not eating coarse foods or wearing a rough cloak."

"I have never seen anything easier than abstaining. Whatever yourself devises, abandon it."

"Flesh eaters are those who backbite; they eat human flesh."

"There is a punishment for all things. The punishments for the gnostic is to be cut off from His remembrance."

"Five souls are the most dignified in creation: a scholar who is not self-indulgent (moderate), a Sufi jurisprudent, a humble rich person, a thankful poor one, and a noble who follows the Sunnah."

"Moaning and wailing have ten kinds of which nine are full of showoff and only one kind is full of reality."

"If one tear falls on account of fear of God, it is better then fasting throughout life."

"He who spends life in remoteness is much better, for it was the practice of the foremost saintly people. They liked to live comely instead of grandeur."

"The king who seeks company of the ascetics is superior to that ascetic who seeks nearness of the king."

"Someone asked: "What is meaning of certainty? " He replied, it is the name of inner voice, and the folk of certainty arrive at the gnosis. And the meaning of certainty is that every affliction be considered sent by Allah."

"Sell not the friendship of the Lord for the friendship of the world and its possessions."

"I fear to accept anything from anybody lest my heart should start cherishing love for that person. I desire only to live in His thoughts."

"Worse than sin against God is sin against man."

"For the people of the world sleep is more profitable than to keep awake, for then they keep off worldly discourses during sleep."