"Allah may open up for you the gates of obedience, but He may not open up for you the gates of acceptance. He may ordain you a state of disobedience which may happen to lead you to the right path. The disobedience which teaches you humility is better than the piety which vests you with vanity and arrogance!"
- Ibn 'Ata
"Ruin is caused by two traits - pride and despair. Happiness cannot be obtained without effort and struggle. A vain person does not make any effort because he believes that he is perfect, a despairing person does not make any effort because he believes it is useless."
- Ibn Mas'ud
