Ascending towards virtues is a hardship that saves

الِارْتِقَاءُ إِلَى الْفَضَائِلِ صَعْبٌ مُنْجٍ [منجي‏]

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Being noble-minded means having a good character and eschewing lowly traits

الْكَرَمُ حُسْنُ السَّجِيَّةِ وَاجْتِنَابُ الدَّنِيَّةِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Merit is [acquired] by perfection [of character] and noble deeds, not through excessive wealth and eminent feats

الْفَضِيلَةُ بِحُسْنِ الْكَمَالِ وَمَكَارِمِ الْأَفْعَالِ لَا بِكَثْرَةِ الْمَالِ وَجَلَالَةِ الْأَعْمَالِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Compel yourself to [acquire] virtues, for indeed you have a natural propensity for vices

أَكْرِهْ نَفْسَكَ عَلَى الْفَضَائِلِ فَإِنَّ الرَّذَائِلَ أَنْتَ مَطْبُوعٌ عَلَيْهَا

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The strongest means [of gaining success in this world and the next] is having excellent [qualities and] merits

أَقْوَى الْوَسَائِلِ حُسْنُ الْفَضَائِلِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Verily you are more in need of honourable deeds than you are of eloquent words

إِنَّكُمْ إِلَى مَكَارِمِ الْأَفْعَالِ أَحْوَجُ مِنْكُمْ إِلَى جَمْعِ الْأَمْوَالِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

When you desire to acquire noble traits then keep away from the forbidden

إِذَا رَغِبْتَ فِي الْمَكَارِمِ فَاجْتَنِبِ الْمَحَارِمَ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

When there is an admirable quality in a man, then expect from him other such qualities

إِذَا كَانَ فِي الرَّجُلِ خَلَّةٌ رَائِقَةٌ فَانْتَظِرْ مِنْهُ أَخَوَاتِهَا

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

When [showing] respect is of no benefit then humiliation is firmer; when the whip is not successful then the sword is sharper

إِذَا لَمْ تَنْفَعِ الْكَرَامَةُ فَالْإِهَانَةُ أَحْزَمُ وَإِذَا لَمْ يَنْجَعِ السَّوْطُ فَالسَّيْفُ أَحْسَمُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

When the virtues of a man are more than his vices, then that [person] is ideal, and when his virtues and vices are equal then he has protected himself [from destruction], but if his vices are more than his virtues then he is doomed

إِذَا كَانَتْ مَحَاسِنُ الرَّجُلِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ مَسَاوِيهِ فَذَلِكَ الْكَامِلُ [التَّكَامُلُ‏] وَإِذَا كَانَ مُتَسَاوِيَ الْمَحَاسِنِ وَالْمَسَاوِي فَذَلِكَ الْمُتَمَاسِكُ وَإِنْ زَادَتْ مَسَاوِيهِ عَلَى مَحَاسِنِهِ فَذَلِكَ الْهَالِكُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Through virtuous deeds, praise becomes worthy

بِحُسْنِ الْأَفْعَالِ يَحْسُنُ الثَّنَاءُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Through the gaining of merits the enemy is subdued

بِاكْتِسَابِ الْفَضَائِلِ يُكْبَتُ الْمُعَادِي

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Adorn yourselves by taking up kindness, stopping transgression, acting upon the truth, being just and impartial, keeping away from corruption and improving your Hereafter

تَحَلَّوْا بِالْأَخْذِ بِالْفَضْلِ وَالْكَفِّ عَنِ الْبَغْيِ وَالْعَمَلِ بِالْحَقِّ وَالْإِنْصَافِ مِنَ النَّفْسِ وَاجْتِنَابِ الْفَسَادِ وَإِصْلَاحِ الْمَعَادِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Compete in acquiring [a] desirable character, great forbearance and lofty ideas, [and] your reward will become great

تَنَافَسُوا فِي الْأَخْلَاقِ الرَّغِيبَةِ وَالْأَحْلَامِ الْعَظِيمَةِ وَالْأَخْطَارِ الْجَلِيلَةِ يَعْظُمُ لَكُمُ الْجَزَاءُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Work hard to acquire noble traits and bear the burden of [others’] liabilities, [as a result] you will achieve the greatest gains

ثَابِرُوا عَلَى اقْتِنَاءِ الْمَكَارِمِ وَتَحَمَّلُوا أَعْبَاءَ الْمَغَارِمِ تُحْرِزُوا قَصَبَاتِ الْمَغَانِمِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Acquiring of good deeds is one of the best of earnings

اكْتِسَابُ الْحَسَنَاتِ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ الْمَكَاسِبِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

End your day’s work with noble deeds and begin the night by fulfilling the needs of the one who is asleep [and unaware of your assistance]

رُوحُوا فِي الْمَكَارِمِ وَادَّلِجُوا فِي حَاجَةِ مَنْ‏ هُوَ نَائِمٌ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The integrity of a believer is in his keeping away from what is forbidden and hastening towards virtues

ظَرْفُ الْمُؤْمِنِ نَزَاهَتُهُ عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ وَمُبَادَرَتُهُ إِلَى الْمَكَارِمِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Become distinguished by virtues and renounce vices

كُنْ مُتَّصِفاً بِالْفَضَائِلِ مُتَبَرِّئاً مِنَ الرَّذَائِلِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The perfection of virtues is [in] honourable qualities

كَمَالُ الْفَضَائِلِ شَرَفُ الْخَلَائِقِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

One whose empathy (or kind acts) increases, his acquaintances increases

مَنْ كَثُرَتْ عَوَارِفُهُ كَثُرَتْ مَعَارِفُهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

One whose merits are few, his means are weak

مَنْ قَلَّتْ فَضَائِلُهُ ضَعُفَتْ وَسَائِلُهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Holding on to comprehensive merit (or merits) is from the perfection of honour

مِنْ كَمَالِ الشَّرَفِ الْأَخْذُ بِجَامِعِ الْفَضْلِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

One of the best noble deeds is spreading goodness [and virtue]

مِنْ أَحْسَنِ الْمَكَارِمِ بَثُّ الْمَعْرُوفِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

One of the best noble deeds is keeping away from the forbidden

مِنْ أَحْسَنِ الْمَكَارِمِ تَجَنُّبُ الْمَحَارِمِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Achievement of glorious feats is through performing noble deeds

نَيْلُ الْمَآثِرِ بِبَذْلِ الْمَكَارِمِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech