Why does your mirror show nothing? The rust is still on its face.

What it means

Old mirrors were polished metal that rusted. The heart is the same: it reflects truth only when it is cleaned. Do the daily work of scrubbing off what dulls you.

The source

"Why does your mirror show nothing? The rust is still on its face." Rumi said it in Masnavi I, Prologue (the Song of the Reed). Translated by E. H. Whinfield, 1898.

"Knowest thou why thy mirror reflects not ? Because the rust has not been scoured from its face."

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 "Why does your mirror show nothing? The rust is still on its face." mean?

Old mirrors were polished metal that rusted. The heart is the same: it reflects truth only when it is cleaned. Do the daily work of scrubbing off what dulls you.

Who said "Why does your mirror show nothing? The rust is still on its face."?

Rumi (1207–1273). Source: Masnavi I, Prologue (the Song of the Reed).

What is the original wording?

Knowest thou why thy mirror reflects not ? Because the rust has not been scoured from its face (E. H. Whinfield, 1898). Translated by E. H. Whinfield, 1898.

Is "Why does your mirror show nothing? The rust is still on its face." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Why does your mirror show nothing? The rust is still on its face." (Rumi, Masnavi I, Prologue (the Song of the Reed), trans. E. H. Whinfield, 1898). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/why-does-your-mirror-show-nothing-the-rust