Book Quote by Idries Shah
““The Book of Wisdom. Simab said: 'I shall sell the Book of Wisdom for a hundred gold pieces, and some people will say that it is cheap.' Yunus Marmar said to him: 'And I shall give away the key to understanding it, and almost none shall take it, even free of charge.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of Wisdom (attributed to Simab and Yunus Marmar), unknown date
The quote contrasts the devaluation of knowledge when sold cheaply with the greater loss when free insight is ignored, highlighting human tendency to undervalue what is given without cost.
In simple terms: People often ignore valuable free knowledge while overpaying for cheap advice.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and seek free wisdom.
Themes
value
knowledge
human behavior
economics
perception
Mood
reflective
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
aphilosophical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- education
- personal development
- business negotiations
- philosophical discussions
Key Concepts
price perception
motivation
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we trust paid advice more than free?
- How can we encourage people to value free knowledge?
A Different Perspective
Free insight may be dismissed due to lack of perceived effort or cost.
![“Saadi: Be a true renouncer, (zahid) and [you can even] ware satin.” quote by Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c65/idries-shah-450_allah_saadi-be-a-true-renouncer-zahid-and-you_139918.jpg)
