From the 'Forty rules of love'

This is a excerpt from the book 'The forty rules of love' I'm reading written by elif shafaq (a turkish and english novelist),Where a dervish called shams of tabriz on his journey to meet his companion Rumi meets several people and meanwhile explains these forty rules of love.I have only listed ten rules for now.

1)“Intellect and love are made of different materials, Intellect ties people in knots and risks nothing but love dissolves all tangles and risks everything. Intellect is always cautious and advises, ‘beware too much ecstasy’, whereas love says, ‘Oh never mind! Take the plunge!’ Intellect does not easily break down, whereas love can effortlessly reduce itself to rubble. But treasures are hidden among ruins. A broken heart hides treasure.”

2)“Most of the problems of the world stem from the linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstanding. Don’t ever take words at face value. When you step into zone of love, language as we know it becomes obsolete. That which cannot be put into words can only be gasped through silence.”

3)“Whatever happens in your life, No matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighbourhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up new path only for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be thankful when all is well. A sufi is thankful not only for what he has been given but also for all that has been denied.”

4)“Patience does not mean passively endure. It means to be far-sighted enough to trust the end result of the process. What does patience mean? It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, It look at the night and see the dawn. Impatience means to be so short-sighted as to not to be able to see the outcome. The lovers of god never run out of patience, for they know that time are needed for the crescent moon to become full.”

5)“East, West, South and north makes little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey a journey within. If you travel within, you’ll travel the whole world wide and beyond.”

6)“The midwife knows that when there is no pain, the way for baby cannot be opened and mother cannot give birth. Likewise, for a new Self to be born, hardship is necessary. Just as clay needs to go through intense heat to become strong, Love can only be perfected in pain.”

7)“The quest for love changes us. There is no seeker among those who search for love who has not matured on the way. The moment you start looking for love, you start to change within and without.”

8)“Try not to resist the changes that came your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to better than the one to come? ”

9)“If you want to change the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself. Unless you learn to love yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved. Once you achieve that stage, however, be thankful for every thorn thrown at you. It is a sign that you will be soon showered in roses.”

10)“Fret not where the road will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That’s the hardest part and that’s what you are responsible for. Once you take that step let everything do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Do not go with the flow. Be the flow.”