Premature ambition and immature complaints

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 402
Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 3, Chapter 402

Premature ambition and immature complaints

۴۰۲. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام) لِبَعْضِ مُخَاطِبِيهِ، وَقَدْ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلِمَةٍ يُسْتَصْغَرُ مِثْلُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ مِثْلِهَا: لَقَدْ طِرْتَ شَكِيراً، وَهَدَرْتَ سَقْباً.
402. Someone uttered an expression above his position, then Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said to him: You have started flying soon after growing feathers (shakīr) and commenced grumbling before attaining youth (saqb).