Honesty is better than a false reputation

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When you say, "I'm ignorant: teach me,"
such honesty is better than a false reputation.
Learn from your father Adam, O clear-browed man:
he said, "O our Lord" and "We have done wrong."*
He made no excuses, nor did he invent lies,
nor did he lift up the banner of evasion.

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Chon be-guyi "Jâhelam ta`lim deh"
in chonin ensâf az nâmus beh
Az pedar âmuz ay rawshan-jabin
"Rabbanâ" goft va "Zalamnâ"* pish azin
Nah bahâneh kard va nah tazvir sâkht
nah levâ-ye makr o hilat bar farâkht

*al-Anbiyâ', 97

-- Mathnawi IV: 1388-1390
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

The media:

http://tinyurl.com/2b4dh3

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Honesty is better than a false reputation