"A person's intellect becomes apparent through his dealings, and a man's character is known by the way he exercises authority. The intellect is a king and characteristics are its subjects, so if it is weak in governing them, disorder takes place. The intellect is better than desire, for the intellect makes you a king over your destiny, and desire makes you a slave of your destiny. The intellect is a natural disposition which learns from experience. The intellect is what arrives at what is correct through reasoning, and recognizes what has not yet happened through what has already taken place. Use your intellect to understand something when you hear about it-the intellect that examines, that is, and not just the intellect that repeats what it hears, for surely there are many who repeat the knowledge that they hear, and there are few who examine it. The one who has an intellect longs to be like the righteous people so that he can be of one of them, and he loves them so that he can be united with them in his love, even if he falls short in emulating their actions. The one who has an intellect does not openly display it except in one of two situations: when he is furthest away from seeking something in the world, and when he is furthest away from abandoning it. Surely hated adversity has final objectives in which it will inevitably end, so the one who has an intellect should try to sleep over it until this happens, for surely any attempt to stop it before it has come to an end will only intensify that hated diversity even more. The first opinion of the person of intellect is the last opinion of an ignorant person. The one who has an intellect finds harshness of life amongst persons of intellect more agreeable than a life of ease amongst the foolish."

"When a dead person is placed in his grave, four kinds of fire will cover him, but then the prayer will come and put one of them out, and the fast will come and put another one of them out, and then charity will come and put another one out, and knowledge will come and put the forth one out, and it will say : ' If I had come sooner, I would a have put all of them out, and given you delight for I am with you now, and you'll not see anything else distressing."

"Do not share the knowledge with which you have been blessed with everyone in general, as you do with some people in particular; and know that there are some men in whom Allah, may He he glorified, has placed hidden secrets, which they are forbidden to reveal. Remember the reply of the righteous slave to Moses when he said to him: 'May I follow you so that you can teach me what you know about what is right?' He replied: 'Surely you will not be able to be patient with me. How can you be patient about something which you do not understand?'."

"Boasting issues from small minds."

"Humility is one of the nets spread by real greatness."

"Pride mars greatness."

"Self-conceit impedes progress."

"Self-conceit poisons the mind."

"Humility is the product of knowledge."

"He is really wise whose actions reflect his words."

"To separate oneself from things of time and to connect oneself with things of eternity is highest wisdom."

"The foolish aim at wealth."

"The wise aim at perfection."

"To fight against one's own desires is highest wisdom."

"One's obedience to God is proportionate to one's wisdom."

"Lying spoils news."

"Misrepresentation spoils narration."

"Friendship is impossible with a liar."

"Truth means conformity of speech with the Divine mode of working."

"To fulfill promises is the highest form of integrity."

"Honesty is Divine language."

"To teach is to learn."

"Practice makes knowledge perfect."

"Knowledge creates fear of God."

"To respect the learned is to respect God."

"Knowledge gives life to the soul."

"The ignorant man does not understand the learned for he has never been learned himself."

"The learned man understands the ignorant for he was once ignorant for he was once ignorant himself."

"The innumerable fools have made the learned very scarce."

"The most complete gift of God is a life based on knowledge."

"Two groups were in love with Ali's way, one was wise and pure-hearted, and the other was good-hearted and full of taste. Ali ibn Abi Talib was a martyr of his own greatness. He passed away while prayer was flowing on his tongue and his heart was filled with the desire for God. The Arab people did not understand the truth of his position until a group of people from their neighboring country (Iran) arose, distinguished this precious gem from the stone, and recognized him."

"“O world, what would happen if you gathered all your forces and again manifested a personality like Ali with that reason, heart, tongue and sword?”"

"“Ali ibn Abi Talib is the spokesman of the word of God and his heart is alert and aware of it.”"

""I do not know which of you has visited Najaf, the house of the Commander of the Faithful in Kufa is behind the Kufa Mosque near the Dar al-Marah; I have entered that house; It is about one hundred to one hundred and fifty meters, it had two or three small rooms, at that time Ali had absolute power, from this house he ruled a country that was perhaps ten times the size of your Iran… Even though he was the ruler, the Imam would come to the market of Kufa…”"

""He never worshipped idols; therefore, the Sunnis also call him "May Allah have honored his face." In addition, he was given the privilege of breaking idols. God knows how difficult it would have been for those who had worshipped idols for years and had made many appeals to their idols if they had been ordered to break them, and how they would have refused!"

"He is the foster-child of the Messenger of Allah and his educated son. Ali is a great jurist whose opinion, from the perspective of those seeking the light of truth, is the most correct opinion of the people. He is the leader and master of the ascetics before and after him."

"People have made his character and method a means of blaming the caliphs."

""Ali made the past forget and put the future in difficulty." [About knowing him]"

"There has not been a more ascetic than Ali in the world."

"“In my opinion, Ali was the first Arab who came into contact with the universal spirit and entered into dialogue with it. He was martyred because of his greatness and died while praying between his lips. The Arabs did not recognize his value until they learned among their Persian neighbors some of the differences between sand and precious stones."

"“A brilliant mind... full of fiery influence and boldness. There was something chivalrous about him; brave as a lion; but with the kindness, truth and love worthy of Christian chivalry... His martyrdom was due to the severity of his justice.""

"“The last will of the Prophet of Islam was not carried out; because he had appointed Ali as his successor, while after his death, some chose Abu Bakr"

"“With a keen intellect, warm in influence, and trustworthy in friendship, he was from childhood the devotee of the Prophet in heart and soul. Simple, quiet, and unambitious, it was more a strain than a desire when, after a few days, he gained the rule of half the Muslim world.”"

"“No new Muslim has surpassed Ali in zeal and virtue. He united the merits of a poet, a soldier, and a saint; his rationality still inspires in a collection of moral and religious sayings; And every enemy, in the battles of tongue or sword, was subdued by his eloquence and courage. From the first hour of his mission to the last funeral, the Prophet was never abandoned by a generous friend who was happy to call him his brother, his successor, and his faithful Aaron.”"

"“O Ali! You are to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that no prophet will come after me.”"

"Ali is acclaimed as the "Father of Sufism". Most of the Sufi orders claim their descent from Ali. According to Ali Hajjweri, the rank of Ali is very high in the line up of Sufism. According to Junayd of Baghdad, Ali is the Shaykh as regards the principles and practices of Sufism. … The roots of Sufism lie embedded in Islam itself. There are numerous passages in the Holy Quran which are of a mystical character. The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be on him) himself displayed mystical inclinations and he very often retired to the cave of Hirah for the purpose of devotions, meditation and contemplation. The Holy Prophet was recipient of two types of revelations, one embodied in the Holy Quran, and the other that illuminated his heart. The former was meant for all, the latter for a selected few whose hearts could be illuminated with the Divine Light. The knowledge of the Holy Prophet was thus book knowledge (ilm-i-Safina), and heart knowledge (ilm-i-Sina). Ali got this heart knowledge from the Holy Prophet."

"The character of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.)(Ali bin Abu-Talib) was exceptional from birth to martyrdom. He was born inside the Ka'bah - which was unparalleled before his birth and remained unparalleled thereafter. And he was martyred while he was praying in the mosque. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) spent all the time between these two points in jihad, patience for the sake of God, acquiring knowledge and insight, and moving on the path of divine satisfaction. Early in his childhood, the hand of divine acumen gave Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) to the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was only six years old when the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) brought him to his own house from the house of Abi Talib. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was educated by the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.)."

"Understanding the knowledge and wisdom of the Qur'an is by far, higher than memorizing."

"Reciter and listener of the Qur'an are alike in prize and reward."