The Vile

When the vile one attains a position above his status, his condition changes [for the worse]. اَللَّئِيمُ إذا بَلَغَ فَوْقَ مِقْدارِهِ تَنَكَّرَتْ أحْوالُهُ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile one is harsh when he is approached entreatingly and becomes soft when he is berated. اَللَّئِيمُ يَجْفُو إذَا اسْتُعْطِفَ، وَيَلينُ إذا عُنِّفَ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile person does not follow anyone except the one who is like him and he does not incline... اَللَّئِيمُ لايَتْبَعُ إلاّ شَكْلَهُ، ولايَميلُ إلاّ إلى مِثْلِهِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم No good is expected from a vile person, and no one is safe from his evil and secure from his ills. اَللَّئِيمُ لايُرْجى خَيْرُهُ، ولايُسْلَمُ مِنْ شَرِّهِ، ولايُؤْمَنُ مِنْ غَوائِلِهِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile one dons the attire of dishonour and harms the freemen. اَللَّئِيمُ يُدْرِعُ العارَ، ويُؤْذِي الأحْرارَ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile one considers his favours as debts that he will demand repayment for [in the future]. اَللَّئِيمُ يَرى سَوالِفَ إحْسانِهِ دَيْناً لَهُ يَقْتَضيهِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile one is such that when he needs you he puts you in difficulty, and when you need him he... اَللَّئِيمُ إذَا احْتاجَ إلَيْكَ أجفاكَ، وإذَا احْتَجْتَ إلَيْهِ عَنّاكَ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم Be cautious of the vile one when you honour him, and the depraved one when you bring him forward,... اِحْذَرِ اللَّئِيمَ إذا أكْرَمْتَهُ، وَالرَّذْلَ إذا قَدَّمْتَهُ، والسِّفْلَةَ إذا رَفَعْتَهُ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile one spares no effort in seeking evil vengeance for the wrong that has been done to him. اَللَّئِيْمُ يُعْلي هِمَّتَهُ فيما جُنِيَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ طَلَبِ سُوءِ المُكافاةِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم Beware of depending on the vile one, for indeed he forsakes the one who depends on him. إيّاكَ أنْ تَعْتَمِدَ عَلَى اللَّئْيمِ، فَإنَّهُ يَخْذُلُ مَنِ اعْتَمَدَ عَلَيْهِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The most difficult objective is seeking that which is in the possession of the vile ones. أصْعَبُ المَرامِ طَلَبُ ما في أيْدِي اللِّئامِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile ones are the most patient physically [but are weakest in spirit]. اللِّئامُ أصْبَرُ أجْساداً۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile one has no magnanimity. اَللَّئِيمُ لامُرُوَّةَ لَهُ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile person is never ashamed. اَللَّئِيمُ لايَسْتَحْيي۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile person is one who puts a lot of obligation [on others when he does any good to them]. اَللَّئِيمُ مَنْ كَثُرَ اِمْتِنانُهُ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile one is such that when he has the power, he commits atrocities and when he makes a promise,... اَللَّئِيمُ إذا قَدَرَ أفْحَشَ، وإذا وَعَدَ أخْلَفَ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The vile one is such that when he gives, he does begrudgingly and when he is given something, he is... اَللَّئِيمُ إذا أعْطى حَقَدَ، وإذا أُعْطِيَ جَحَدَ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم When you come upon vile [and miserly] people then give the excuse of fasting [so that you may leave... إذا حَلَلْتَ بِاللِّئامِ، فَاعْتَلِلْ بِالصِّيامِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم When the vile one attains a position above his status, his condition changes [for the worse]. إذا بَلَغَ اللَّئيمُ فَوْقَ مِقْدارِهِ تَنَكَّرَتْ أحْوالُهُ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم When the vile one increases his reverence for you then increase your scorn for him. إذا زادَكَ اللَّئيمُ إجْلالاً فَزِدْهُ إذْلالاً۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The authority of a vile person manifests his evil traits and flaws. دَوْلَةُ اللَّئيمِ تَكْشِفُ مَساوِيَهُ ومَعايِبَهُ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The dominion of the vile is the humiliation of the honourable. دَوْلَةُ اللِّئامِ مَذَلَّةُ الكِرامِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The ascendency the vile ones is from the calamities of the times. دُوَلُ اللِّئامِ مِنْ نَوائِبِ الأيّامِ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم The one who seeks good from vile people is deprived of it. طالِبُ الخَيْرِ مِنَ اللِّئامِ مَحْرُومٌ۔ —Ghurar al-Hikam —غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم