The world of literature was gifted with an enchanting gem when Turkish author Elif Shafak penned “The Forty Rules of Love.” This mesmerizing novel has many famous quotes and rules that thread the lives of Rumi, the renowned 13th-century poet, and Shams of Tabriz, his spiritual instructor. Within its pages, the reader finds forty rules that reverberate with wisdom, love, and spirituality.
The Forty Rules of Love Quotes
Some of the most famous English Elif Shafak quotes from the novel are;
- “Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighborhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you.”
- “The past is an interpretation. The future is an illusion. The world does not move through time as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future.”
- “Intellect ties people in knots and risks nothing, but love dissolves all tangles and risks everything.”
- “You can study God through everything and everyone in the universe because God is not confined in a mosque, synagogue, or church.”
- “The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories.”
- “Do not judge but love and be loved, if you want to be really happy.”
- “Whatever you speak, good or evil, will somehow come back to you. Therefore, if there is someone who harbors ill thoughts about you, saying similarly bad things about him will only make matters worse.”
- “In true love, you attain freedom.”
- “Real filth is the one inside. The rest simply washes off.”
- “Patience does not mean to passively endure. It means to look at the end of a process.”
- “Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path.”
- “The whole universe is contained within a single human being – you.”
- “Life is a temporary loan and this world is nothing but a sketchy imitation of Reality.”
- “Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live through you.”
- “The quest for Love changes us. There is no seeker among those who search for Love who has not matured on the way.”
- “Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire!”
- “Fret not where the road will take you. Instead, concentrate on the first step. That’s the hardest part and that’s what you are responsible for.”
- “With life as short as a half-taken breath, don’t plant anything but love.”
- “Be grateful for your life, your love, and your friends.”
- “Give up wanting to be liked – that is the market. But only those who seek the truth are liked.”
- “There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe.”
- “You can be someone of Love and still be wicked. Go beyond love into Love.”
- “There are many ways to the Divine. I have chosen the ways of song, dance, and laughter.”
- “Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Feel the artistry moving through and be silent.”
- “The human being has a unique place among God’s creation.”
- “Everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself.”
- “Most of the problems of the world stem from linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstandings.”
- “Whatever lifts the corners of your mouth, trust that.”
- “Rise in love, do not fall in love.”
- “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.”
- “East, west, south, or north makes little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey a journey within.”
- “On the path of Love, friend and stranger are one and the same.”
- “Love will find its way through all languages on its own.”
- “God is a meticulous clockmaker.”
- “Don’t be surprised at Fortune’s turns and twists: That wheel has spun a thousand yarns before.”
- “I am yours. Don’t give myself back to me.”
- “If you want to strengthen your faith, you will need to soften inside.”
- “A life without love is of no account.”
- “God is busy with the completion of your work, both outwardly and inwardly.”
- “Don’t ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine or mundane, Eastern or Western. Divisions only lead to more divisions.”
In Conclusion:
The Forty Rules of Love is not just a novel; it’s a spiritual journey that transcends the barriers of time, bringing the eternal message of love from Rumi and Shams to the contemporary reader. Elif Shafak’s quotes from Forty Rules of Love gracefully illuminate the path to love, understanding, and inner peace. For all those who embark on this voyage, the destination is an enlightened heart.
