Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #389

Saying 389

Passage #411


Passage #412


Passage #485

۳۸۹. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): مَنْ أَبْطَأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ نَسَبُهُ.


389. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Whomever his action detains behind, his lineage cannot put him forward.

Passage #486

وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى: مَنْ فَاتَهُ حَسَبُ نَفْسِهِ لَمْ يَنْفَعْهُ حَسَبُ آبَائِهِ.


In another version it is thus: Whoever misses personal attainment cannot be benefited by his forefathers’ attainments.