the ego demands...

A certain fakir saw a saddened dervish slowly walking away from the
Tekkia of the great teacher Arif Hakimi of Paghman. He asked the
keeper of the gate what might the reason be for this man's crestfallen
look.

The gateman replied according to Ghalib Shah:

"He demanded the
right to attend the meetings of the People of Truth.

But the People
cast him out, for those who have the right cannot demand it, and those
who demand it cannot have it.

As Abu-Yusuf himself was heard to remark:

"The disciple does not
need to speak a word before the Guide knows, through his demeanour and
posture, whether he has come to learn or come to trade."

...........

as collected by Idries Shah