Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal was a poet, philosopher and politician born in Sialkot, British India (now in Pakistan), whose poetry in Urdu and Persian is considered to be among the greatest of the modern era and whose vision of an independent state for the Muslims of British India was to inspire the creation of Pakistan. He is commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal‎, Allama meaning "Scholar". Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilization across the world, but specifically in India; a series of famous lectures he delivered to this effect were published as The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam. One of the most prominent leaders of the All India Muslim League, Iqbal encouraged the creation of a "state in northwestern India for Indian Muslims" in his 1930 presidential address. Iqbal encouraged and worked closely with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and he is known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan ("The Thinker of Pakistan"), Shair-e-Mashriq ("The Poet of the East"), and Hakeem-ul-Ummat ("The Sage of Ummah"). He is officially recognized as the "national poet" in Pakistan. https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 Int. Iqbal Society noreply@iqbal.com.pk 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2606-125-flattery Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">125. Flattery</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>Flattery is only exaggerated good manners.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">125. Flattery</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>Flattery is only exaggerated good manners.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2605-124-absolute-knowledge-and-moral-growth Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">124. Absolute Knowledge and Moral Growth</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>The result of all philosophical thought is that absolute knowledge is an impossibility. The poet Browning turns this impossibility to ethical use by a very ingenious argument. The uncertainty of human knowledge, teaches the poet, is a necessary condition of moral growth; since complete knowledge will destroy the liberty of human choice.</div> <div></div> <div> <hr /> </div> <div id="_mcePaste">* This reflection was published in New Era, Lucknow, in 1917.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">“…teaches the poet” was changed to “says the poet” – KAS.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">124. Absolute Knowledge and Moral Growth</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>The result of all philosophical thought is that absolute knowledge is an impossibility. The poet Browning turns this impossibility to ethical use by a very ingenious argument. The uncertainty of human knowledge, teaches the poet, is a necessary condition of moral growth; since complete knowledge will destroy the liberty of human choice.</div> <div></div> <div> <hr /> </div> <div id="_mcePaste">* This reflection was published in New Era, Lucknow, in 1917.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">“…teaches the poet” was changed to “says the poet” – KAS.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2604-123-art-alone-is-boundless Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">123. Art Alone is Boundless</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>Science, Philosophy, Religion all have limits. Art alone is boundless.</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div> <hr /> </div> <div>* This reflection was published in New Era, Lucknow, in 1917.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">It was reworded: “Science and Philosophy have limits, Art is</div> <div id="_mcePaste">boundless.” – KAS.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">123. Art Alone is Boundless</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>Science, Philosophy, Religion all have limits. Art alone is boundless.</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div> <hr /> </div> <div>* This reflection was published in New Era, Lucknow, in 1917.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">It was reworded: “Science and Philosophy have limits, Art is</div> <div id="_mcePaste">boundless.” – KAS.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2603-122-the-man-with-a-single-idea Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">122. The Man With a Single Idea</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>If you wish to be heard in the noise of this world, let your soul be dominated by a single idea. It is the man with a single idea who creates political and social revolutions, establishes empires and gives law to the world.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">122. The Man With a Single Idea</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>If you wish to be heard in the noise of this world, let your soul be dominated by a single idea. It is the man with a single idea who creates political and social revolutions, establishes empires and gives law to the world.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2602-121-seeking-wisdom Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">121. Seeking Wisdom</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>I have often played hide and seek with wisdom; she conceals herself always behind the rock of determination.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">121. Seeking Wisdom</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>I have often played hide and seek with wisdom; she conceals herself always behind the rock of determination.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2601-120-love-is-a-playful-child Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">120. Love is a Playful Child</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>Love is a playful child. She makes our individuality and then quietly whispers in our ears – “Renounce it.”</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">120. Love is a Playful Child</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>Love is a playful child. She makes our individuality and then quietly whispers in our ears – “Renounce it.”</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2600-119-hafiz Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">119. Hafiz</div> <div></div> <div id="_mcePaste">In words like cut jewels Hafiz put the sweet unconscious spirituality of the nightingale.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">119. Hafiz</div> <div></div> <div id="_mcePaste">In words like cut jewels Hafiz put the sweet unconscious spirituality of the nightingale.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2599-118-goethe-and-heine Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">118. Goethe and Heine</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>No nation was so fortunate as the Germans. They gave birth to Heine at the time when Goethe was singing in fullthroated ease. Two uninterrupted springs!</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">118. Goethe and Heine</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>No nation was so fortunate as the Germans. They gave birth to Heine at the time when Goethe was singing in fullthroated ease. Two uninterrupted springs!</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2598-117-literary-criticism Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">117. Literary Criticism</div> <div></div> <div id="_mcePaste">Literary criticism does not necessarily follow the creation of literature. We find Lessing at the very threshold of German literature.</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div> <hr /> </div> <div>* This reflection was also published in New Era, Lucknow, in 1917.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">The first sentence was revised as “Literary criticism sometimes</div> <div id="_mcePaste">precedes the creation of a great literature.” The phrase “at the very</div> <div id="_mcePaste">threshold” was also changed to “on the very threshold” – KAS.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">117. Literary Criticism</div> <div></div> <div id="_mcePaste">Literary criticism does not necessarily follow the creation of literature. We find Lessing at the very threshold of German literature.</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div> <hr /> </div> <div>* This reflection was also published in New Era, Lucknow, in 1917.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">The first sentence was revised as “Literary criticism sometimes</div> <div id="_mcePaste">precedes the creation of a great literature.” The phrase “at the very</div> <div id="_mcePaste">threshold” was also changed to “on the very threshold” – KAS.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 2021-02-20T00:11:18+00:00 https://www.iqbal.com.pk/allama-iqbal-prose-works/speeches-writings-statements-of-allama-iqbal/982-prose-works/stray-reflections-the-private-notebook-of-muhammad-iqbal/2597-116-horace-montaigne-and-azad Noman Bokhari noman.bokhari@iqbalsociety.org

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">116. Horace, Montaigne and Azad</div> <div></div> <div id="_mcePaste">“So are we drawn, as wood is shoved,</div> <div id="_mcePaste">By others’ sinews each way moved.”</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div></div> <div>Montaigne remarks on the above lines of Horace:–</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div></div> <div>“We go not, but we are carried, as things that float, now gliding gently, now hulling violently, according as the water is either stormy or calm.”</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>While reading this passage in Montaigne I was put in mind of a verse by our late and lamented poet “Azad” who has given an expression to this idea much more beautifully than either Horace or Montaigne. Says he:</div> <div id="_mcePaste"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 28px; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <div style="text-align: center;" dir="rtl">جہاز عمر رواں پر سوار بیٹھے ہیں</div> <div style="text-align: center;" dir="rtl">سوار خاک ہیں بے اختیار بیٹھے ہیں</div> </span></span></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div> <hr /> </div> <div>* The Urdu couplet could be translated as: “We ride the boat of</div> <div id="_mcePaste">the passing age. Nay, not ride it but merely sitting on board</div> <div id="_mcePaste">without control.” KAS.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">* This reflection was published in New Era, Lucknow, in 1917.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">The “poet” was changed to “writer”, and in the second line of</div> <div id="_mcePaste">Azad’s Urdu couplet,  khak hain  was changed to  kahay ko –</div> <div id="_mcePaste">KAS.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="_mcePaste">116. Horace, Montaigne and Azad</div> <div></div> <div id="_mcePaste">“So are we drawn, as wood is shoved,</div> <div id="_mcePaste">By others’ sinews each way moved.”</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div></div> <div>Montaigne remarks on the above lines of Horace:–</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div></div> <div>“We go not, but we are carried, as things that float, now gliding gently, now hulling violently, according as the water is either stormy or calm.”</div> <div id="_mcePaste"></div> <div>While reading this passage in Montaigne I was put in mind of a verse by our late and lamented poet “Azad” who has given an expression to this idea much more beautifully than either Horace or Montaigne. Says he:</div> <div id="_mcePaste"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 28px; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <div style="text-align: center;" dir="rtl">جہاز عمر رواں پر سوار بیٹھے ہیں</div> <div style="text-align: center;" dir="rtl">سوار خاک ہیں بے اختیار بیٹھے ہیں</div> </span></span></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div> <hr /> </div> <div>* The Urdu couplet could be translated as: “We ride the boat of</div> <div id="_mcePaste">the passing age. Nay, not ride it but merely sitting on board</div> <div id="_mcePaste">without control.” KAS.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">* This reflection was published in New Era, Lucknow, in 1917.</div> <div id="_mcePaste">The “poet” was changed to “writer”, and in the second line of</div> <div id="_mcePaste">Azad’s Urdu couplet,  khak hain  was changed to  kahay ko –</div> <div id="_mcePaste">KAS.</div> <p> </p> <p> </p>