He was decisive and wholehearted in everything he did, so intent non the task at hand that he never looked over his shoulder, even if his cloak got caught in a thorny bush. When he did turn to speak to somebody, he used to swing his entire body and dress him full face. When he shook hands, he was never the first to withdraw his own. He inspired such confidence that he was known as al-Amin, the Reliable One. (Karen Armstrong)

He was decisive and wholehearted in everything he did, so intent non the task at hand that he never looked over his shoulder, even if his cloak got caught in a thorny bush. When he did turn to speak to somebody, he used to swing his entire body and dress him full face. When he shook hands, he was never the first to withdraw his own. He inspired such confidence that he was known as al-Amin, the Reliable One.

Karen Armstrong

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body bush catch cloak confidence dress entire everything face full hand intent known non reliable shook shoulder somebody speak swing task turn withdraw hands

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In order to learn true humility (I use this expression to describe the state of mind under discussion), it is good for a person to withdraw from the turmoil of the world (we see that Christ withdrew when the people wanted to proclaim him king as well as when he had to walk the thorny path), for in life either the depressing or the elevating impression is too dominant for a true balance to come about. Here, of course, individuality is very decisive.

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I dream of cloisters of marble where in divine silence the heroes, standing, rest; at night, in light of the soul, I speak with them: at night! They are in a row: I walk among the rows: the stone hands I kiss them; the stone eyes open; the stone lips move; the stone beards tremble; they seize the sword of stone; they cry: place the sword in the sheath! Mute, I kiss their hand.

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