For more about the Persian mystic and poet Saadi, see this earlier post.

In his Gulistan, while discussing the ‘Manner of Dervishes,’ Saadi of Shiraz told the following. A mureed said to his Pir: ‘What am I to do? I am troubled by the people, many of whom pay me visits. By their coming and going they encroach upon my precious time.’

The Pir replied: ‘Lend something to every one of them who is poor, and ask something from every one who is rich, and they will come round you no more.’