You hope for that which you do not achieve...

You hope for that which you do not achieve, amass wealth which you do not use and build houses which you do not occupy! 54ـ ما لَكُمْ تُؤَمِّلُونَ ما لاتُدْرِكُونَهُ، وتَجْمَعُونَ مالا تأكُلُونَهُ، وَتَبْنُونَ ما لا تَسْكُنُونَهُ؟ No one lengthens his hopes except that he forgets death and performs evil actions. 55ـ ماأطال اَحَدٌ الأمَلَ إلاَّ نَسيَ الأجَلَ، وأساءَ العَمَلَ. The best assistance for action is curtailing hopes. 56ـ نِعْمَ عَوْنُ العَمَلِ قَصْـرُ الأمَلِ.

Let aspirations and ploys not deceive you, for this suffices as ineptness. 57ـ لا تَغُرَّنَّكَ الأمانيُّ والخُدَعُ، فَكفى بِذلِكَ خُرْقاً. No deception is more…