Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,161,747 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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Said in the 800s
“The first essential in chemistry is that you should perform practical work and conduct experiments, for he who performs not practical work nor makes experiments will never attain to the least degree of mastery. But you, O my son, do experiment's so that you may acquire knowledge. Scientists delight not in abundance of material; they rejoice only in the excellence of their experimental methods.”
Jabir ibn Hayyan (721–815) said by 815 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted by , Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists (2008) p. 163.
“身無疑鳳雙飛翼, 心有靈犀一點通。”
Li Shangyin (813–858) said by 858 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in A Dictionary of Chinese Popular Sayings and Famous Quotes by Chan Sin-wai (HK: The Commercial Press, 2021), p. 241
“Man is not worshipful unless he is clement.”
Ali al-Rida (770–818) said by 818 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“God hath made the pious living in their death and hath made the wicked dead during their lives, i.e., the pious, though they be dead, yet live, since the angels utter blessings on their piety until they are made immortal by the recompense which they receive at the Resurrection.”
Shaqiq al-Balkhi (died 810) said by 810 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Whom God loves, on him He sends sufferings and whom He does not like, on him He bestows comforts.”
Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad (725–803) said by 803 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If I ask Him to receive me, Will He say me nay? Not till earth, and not till heaven Pass away.”
Stephen the Hymnographer (725–802) said by 802 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 153.
“I, your Flaccus, am busy carrying out your wishes and instructions at St. Martin's, giving some the honey of the holy scriptures, making others drunk on the old wine of ancient learning.”
Alcuin (740–804) said by 804 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Charlemagne (796), as translated by Stephen Allott, Alcuin of York, c. A.D. 732 to 804: His Life and Letters (1974), p. 12
“寥落古行宫，宫花寂寞红。 白头宫女在，闲坐说玄宗。”
Yuan Zhen (779–831) said by 831 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: At an Old Palace", in Song of the Immortals: An Anthology of Classical Chinese Poetry, trans. Yuanchong Xu (Beijing: New World Press, 1994), p. 128
“One man stands head and shoulders above his contemporary scholars: head and shoulders, some hold, above the Middle Ages: John Scotus Erigena.”
John Scotus Eriugena (800–877) said by 877 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Helen Waddell The Wandering Scholars (Harmondsworth: Penguin, [1927] 1954) pp. 77-78.
“[...] It is better to live for just a single day as a ruler than to live for forty years as an abject slave.”
Babak Khorramdin (798–838) said by 838 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Al-Tabari
“I am the Proof of God for the created beings and I am a proof for the saints (awliya) of my time.”
Sahl al-Tustari (818–896) said by 896 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“James Mitchell, trans. On the Cultivation of Gardens (San Francisco, CA: Ithuriel's Spear, 2009)”
Walafrid Strabo (808–849) said by 849 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If a man lingers too long at home, it shows on his face—so travel and refresh it! People like the sun more, I know, for not shining upon them perpetually.”
Abu Tammam (804–846) said by 846 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Life and Times of Abu Tammam (2015) by Abu Bakr al-Suli, edited and translated by Beatrice Gruendler
“…Their idol of Zur was of gold, and its eyes were two rubies. The zealous Musalmans cut off its hands and plucked out its eyes, and then remarked to the Marzaban how powerless was his idol to do either good or evil…”
Al-Baladhuri (820–892) said by 892 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He said to the effect that no knowledge of Islam can be gained from books of Kalam, as kalam is not from knowledge and that "It is better for a man to spend his whole life doing whatever Allah has prohibited - besides shirk with Allah - rather than spending his whole life involved in kalam.”
Al-Shafi‘i (767–820) said by 820 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Say to the followers of innovation (Bidʻah): the judge between us and you is the day of funerals.”
Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780–855) said by 855 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nothing of that which was gained by fraud can go to the liberation of his soul. Let his wealth be divided among the workmen of this our building, and the poorer servants of our palace.”
Charlemagne (742–814) said by 814 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in Notker's The Deeds of Charlemagne (translated 2008 by David Ganz)
“He who renouncing all activities, who is free of all the limitations of time, space and direction, worships his own Atman which is present everywhere, which is the destroyer of heat and cold, which is Bliss-Eternal and stainless, becomes All-knowing and All-pervading and attains thereafter Immortality.”
Adi Shankara (788–820) said by 820 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In my view, there are no buddhas and no sentient beings, no ancient and no modern. Those who attain, attain without cultivation, without realization, without gain, and without loss, for them there is never anything else but reality. ‘Even if there is anything that goes beyond this, I would say that it is like a dream or a magical illusion.’ This is what I am saying.”
Linji Yixuan (850–867) said by 867 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Sorrow is a king who, when he dwells in a place, does not consent to have anyone dwelled there with him.”
Bishr the Barefoot (767–842) said by 842 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Knowledge of God comprises three kind: Theological, philosophical and mystical. Theological knowledge concerns with tawhid or unification. Philosophical knowledge deals with the concept of Ultimate Truth, reached through reason. Mystical knowledge is the knowledge of the Essence of God. It is attained by the saints after mushahada or the contemplation on God in their illuminated hearts.”
Dhul-Nun al-Misri (796–861) said by 861 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source