صَبَرتُ عَنِ اللَذاتِ لَمّا تَوَلَّتِ

وَأَلزَمتُ نَفسي صَبرَها فَاِستَمَرَّتِ

I endured deprivation when pleasures went away

I abstained from pleasures when they turned away,

And I made my soul get used to patience so it persisted

And compelled my soul to patience, so it endured,

وَما المَرءُ إِلّا حَيثُ يَجعَلُ نَفسَهُ

فَإِن طَمِعَت تاقَت وَإِلّا تَسَلَّتِ

A man is only where he puts himself

For a man is defined only by where he places himself:

If it aspires it yearns, otherwise it settles

If the soul covets, it yearns; otherwise, it finds consolation.