Though poetry stands high in rank,
seek the knowledge that brings benefit.
نظم ار چه به مرتبت بلند است
آن علم طلب که سودمند استNazm ar çi be-mertebet buland est
Ân ilm taleb ki sûdmend est
Nizami, Layla and Majnun, the section "Advice to his son Muhammad" (12th century).
A poet speaks to his son.
He knows poetry stands high.
Still, he advises something else.
It looks like belittling his own art.
It is a father's honesty.
The worth of knowledge
is also measured by what it adds to someone.
Not all knowledge may raise a person.
But if someone has benefited from it,
it has not gone to waste.