Abu Nuwas — a remark

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“Do not judge a man by his outer garments, but by the subtlety of his mind and speech.”

Original: لا تحكم على المرء بظاهر ثوبه، بل بلطافة عقله وكلامه — Praises intellect over outward appearance · Attributed court remark (Arabic)

About Abu Nuwas

Abu Nuwas

c. 756–c. 814

Abu Nuwas, whose full name was al-Hasan ibn Hani al-Hakami and whose life is generally dated from about 756 to about 814, occupies a singular position in the history of Arabic poetry. Few poets have been so admired for verbal brilliance, so censured for moral provocation, so repeatedly transformed into legend, and so…

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