لَعَمرُكَ لَليَأسُ غَيرُ المُري

بِ خَيرٌ مِنَ الطَمَعِ الكاذِبِ

By your life! Despair is better than false hope;

And deliberation spurred by success

وَلَلرَيثُ تَحفِزُهُ بِالنَجا

حِ خَيرٌ مِنَ الأَمَلِ الخائِبِ

Is better than a wish that ends in disappointment.