Death over humiliation and endurance in adversity
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 396
۳۹۶. وَقَالَ (عليه السلام): الْمَنِيَّةُ وَلَا الدَّنِيَّةُ وَالتّقَلُّلُ وَلَا التَّوَسُّلُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُعْطَ قَاعِداً لَمْ يُعْطَ قَائِماً وَالدَّهْرُ يَوْمَانِ: يَوْمٌ لَكَ، وَيَوْمٌ عَلَيْكَ؛ فَإذَا كَانَ لَكَ فَلاَ تَبْطَرْ، وَإِذَا كَانَ عَلَيْكَ فَاصْبِرْ!
396. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Let it be death but not humiliation. Let it be little but not through others. He who does not get while sitting will not get by standing either. The world has two days one for you and the other against you. When the day is for you, do not feel proud but when it is against you endure it.