گر بریزی بحر را در کوزهٔ / چند گنجد قسمت یک روزهٔ

Pour the whole ocean into a jug and it holds one day's share.

Rumi, Masnavi I, Prologue (the Song of the Reed)

What it means

Greed never fills because the jug is only so big. You can only use one day's portion at a time. Take what you need and leave the ocean where it is.

The source

"Pour the whole ocean into a jug and it holds one day's share." Rumi said it in Masnavi I, Prologue (the Song of the Reed). Translated by E. H. Whinfield, 1898.

"Though thou pour the ocean into thy pitcher, It can hold no more than one day’s store."

E. H. Whinfield, 1898, Masnavi I, Prologue (the Song of the Reed). Text read at archive.org.

Who said it

Rumi (1207–1273). Persian poet and Sufi teacher, born near Balkh and settled in Konya. His Masnavi, six books of rhyming couplets, opens with the song of a reed flute.

Questions

What does "Pour the whole ocean into a jug and it holds one day's share." mean?: Greed never fills because the jug is only so big. You can only use one day's portion at a time. Take what you need and leave the ocean where it is.
Who said "Pour the whole ocean into a jug and it holds one day's share."?: Rumi (1207–1273). Source: Masnavi I, Prologue (the Song of the Reed).
What is the original wording?: Though thou pour the ocean into thy pitcher, It can hold no more than one day’s store (E. H. Whinfield, 1898). Translated by E. H. Whinfield, 1898.
Is "Pour the whole ocean into a jug and it holds one day's share." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Pour the whole ocean into a jug and it holds one day's share." (Rumi, Masnavi I, Prologue (the Song of the Reed), trans. E. H. Whinfield, 1898). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/pour-the-whole-ocean-into-a-jug-and