In response to Muawiya
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 28
أَ لَا تَرْبَعُ أَيُّهَا الْإِنْسَانُ عَلَى ظَلْعِكَ، وَتَعْرِفُ قُصُورَ ذَرْعِكَ، وَتَتَأَخَّرُ حَيْثُ أَخَّرَكَ الْقَدَرُ! فَمَا عَلَيْكَ غَلَبَةُ الْمَغْلُوبِ، وَلَا [لَكَ] ظَفَرُ الظَّافِرِ! وَإِنَّكَ لَذَهّابٌ فِي التِّيهِ، رَوَّاغٌ عَنِ الْقَصْدِ.
O man, why do you not see your own lameness and remain within bounds, and why do not you realize the shortness of your measure and stay back where destiny has placed you. You have no concern with the defeat of the defeated or the victory of the victor. You are wandering in bewilderment and straying from the right path.