Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 195Words come according to the attainment of thelistener. Speech is like water that flows from areservoir. How can the water know where theywill send it—into the cucumber-patch, the onionbed,or the rose-garden? But I know this: whenwater comes in torrents, there the lands are thirstyand extensive. But if only a little trickle flows, thatland is small—a little orchard, or a tiny courtyard.The Prophet said, “God inspires wisdom inthe tongue of the teacher according to the aspirationsof the student.” I am a cobbler: the leatheris plentiful, but I cut and stitch according to thesize of the foot.I am your mirror,I am your measure;As much as your stature is,So much my treasure.A worm lives under the earth in darkness. Ithas no eyes or ears because where it lives it doesnot need them. Since there is no need, why giveeyes and ears to worms? God has no scarcity ofeyes and ears and It is not miserly, but It givesaccording to the need. Anything else becomes a