Insight into others...

I you want to get to know a man, engage him in speech. By his
words you will know him.

If he is an imposter, and someone has told
him that by their words men are recognised, and he keeps a watch on his
words to the end that he may not be found out, even so in the end he is
detected.

This is illustrated by the story of the child & his mother. A
child in the desert said to his mother, "On darks nights a horrible
black demon appears to me, and I am terribly afraid."

"Don't be afraid," said his mother. "The next time you see that
form, attack it bravely. Then it will become clear that it is nothing
but a fantasy."

"But mother," said the child, "What if the black demon's mother
has give him similar advice? What shall I do, if she has counselled
him, saying, "Don't say a word, so that you won't be exposed"? How
shall I recognise him then?"

"Keep silent and yield to him, and wait with patience," his
mother answered. "It may be that some word may leap from his mouth.

Or if it does not leap, it may be that from your tongue some word may
leap involuntarily, or in your thoughts some words or some idea may
spring up, so that out of that idea or those words you will know him
for what he is.

For then you will have been affected by him; that is
the reflection of him and his feelings that has sprung up inside of
you."

Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi
from discourse #10
traslated by Arberry