Nahj al-Balagha (Peak of Eloquence)

One should not be afraid of the scarcity of those who tread on the right path (a counsel to tread the clear path of guidance) O people! Do not be desolate at the small number of those who follow the right path, because people throng only round the table (of this world) where the duration of satiety is short and its hunger is prolonged. O people, certainly, what gathers people together (in categories) is (their) agreement (to good or bad) and (their) disagreement, for only one individual killed the camel of Thamud [1] but Allah held all of them in punishment because all of them consented to it. Thus, Allah, the Glorified. has said: “Then they hamstrung her, and turned (themselves) regretful.” (Qur’ān, 26:157). Then their land declined by sinking (into the earth) as the spike of a plough pierces unploughed weak land. O people, he who treads the clear path (of guidance) reaches the spring of water, and whoever abandons it strays into waterless desert.