هر آنکه تخم بدی کشت و چشم نیکی داشت / دماغ بیهده پخت و خیال باطل بست

Whoever plants bad seed and hopes for good fruit is dreaming.

Saadi, Gulistan 1.10

What it means

Saadi says this to a king who wants protection while oppressing his people. Bad actions do not grow good outcomes. Plant what you hope to harvest.

The source

"Whoever plants bad seed and hopes for good fruit is dreaming." Saadi said it in Gulistan 1.10. Translated by James Ross, 1823.

"Whoever sowed the seed of vice, and expected a virtuous produce, pampered a vain brain, and encouraged an idle whim"

James Ross, 1823, Gulistan 1.10. Text read at archive.org.

Who said it

Saadi (c. 1210–1291). Poet of Shiraz who travelled for decades before writing the Bustan and the Gulistan, a book of stories and maxims in prose and verse.

Questions

What does "Whoever plants bad seed and hopes for good fruit is dreaming." mean?: Saadi says this to a king who wants protection while oppressing his people. Bad actions do not grow good outcomes. Plant what you hope to harvest.
Who said "Whoever plants bad seed and hopes for good fruit is dreaming."?: Saadi (c. 1210–1291). Source: Gulistan 1.10.
What is the original wording?: Whoever sowed the seed of vice, and expected a virtuous produce, pampered a vain brain, and encouraged an idle whim (James Ross, 1823). Translated by James Ross, 1823.
Is "Whoever plants bad seed and hopes for good fruit is dreaming." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Whoever plants bad seed and hopes for good fruit is dreaming." (Saadi, Gulistan 1.10, trans. James Ross, 1823). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/whoever-plants-bad-seed-and-hopes-for-good