Omar Khayyam

“Wake! For the Sun, who scattered into flight The Stars before him from the Field of Night, Drives Night along with them from Heav'n, and strikes The Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.”

“You know, my friends, with what a brave carouse I made a second marriage in my house; divorced old barren reason from my bed, and took the daughter of the vine to spouse.”

“Oh threats of Hell and Hopes of Paradise! One thing at least is certain—This Life flies; One thing is certain and the rest is Lies; The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.”

“Drink wine. This is life eternal. This is all that youth will give you. It is the season for wine, roses and drunken friends. Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

“Myself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument About it and about: but evermore Came out by the same door as in I went.”

“Ah, my Belovéd, fill the Cup that clears To-day of past Regrets and future Fears.”

“The worldly hope men set their hearts upon turns ashes—or it prospers; and anon, like snow upon the desert's dusty face, lighting a little hour or two—is gone.”

“To wisely live your life, you don't need to know much. Just remember two main rules for the beginning: You better starve, than eat whatever. And better be alone, than with whoever.”

“I sometimes think that never blows so red The Rose as where some buried Caesar bled; That every Hyacinth the Garden wears Dropt in her Lap from some once lovely Head.”

“Indeed the idols I have loved so long, have done my credit in this world much wrong; have drowned my glory in a shallow cup, and sold my reputation for a song.”

“And this was the close of the matter: that we are helpless, and that we have been created for a purpose which we do not know.”

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”

“A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness— Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!”

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

“Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend, before we too into the dust descend.”

“I sent my Soul through the Invisible, Some letter of that After-life to spell: And by and by my Soul return'd to me, And answer'd 'I Myself am Heav'n and Hell'.”

“For in and out, above, about, below, 'Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show, Played in a Box whose Candle is the Sun, Round which we Phantom Figures come and go.”

“So I be written in the Book of Love, I do not care about that Book above; Erase my name, or write it as you will, So I be written in the Book of Love.”