John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Ali Ben Abi Taleb John Bartlett
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| Believe me, a thousand friends suffice thee not; In a single enemy thou hast more than enough. 1 |
| Note 1. Translated by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and wrongly called by him a translation from Omar Khayyám. Found in Dr. Hermann Tolowiez’s “Polyglotte der Orientalischen Poesie.” Translated by James Russell Lowell thus:— He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, And he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere. [back] |