Omar Khayyám Quotes

Your hand can seize today, but not tomorrow; and thoughts of your tomorrow are nothing but desire. Don’t waste this breath, if your heart isn’t crazy, since the rest of your life won’t last forever.

~ Omar Khayyám

This worldthat was our homefor a brief spellnever brought us anythingbut pain and grief,its a shame that not one of our problemswas ever solved.We departwith a thousand regretsin our hearts.

~ Omar Khayyám

Oh threats of Hell and Hopes of Paradise! Life flies,One thing is certain and the rest is Lies -The Flower that once has blown forever dies.

~ Omar Khayyám

It’s too bad if a heart lacks fire,and is deprived of the light of a heart ablaze.The day on which you arewithout passionate loveis the most wasted day of your life.

~ Omar Khayyám

In monasteries, seminaries, retreats and synagogues, they fear hell and seek paradise. Those who know the mysteries of God never let that seed be planted in their souls.

~ Omar Khayyám

To wisely live your life, you don't need to know muchJust remember two main rules for the beginning:You better starve, than eat whateverAnd better be alone, than with whoever.

~ Omar Khayyám

Oh, come with old Khayyàm, and leave the Wise To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies; One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies; The Flower that once has blown forever dies.

~ Omar Khayyám

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

~ Omar Khayyám

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

~ Omar Khayyám

Wake! For the Sun, who scatter'd into flightThe Stars before him from the Field of Night,Drives Night along with them from Heav'n,and strikesThe Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light

~ Omar Khayyám

A book of verses underneath the boughA flask of wine, a loaf of bread and thouBeside me singing in the wildernessAnd wilderness is paradise now.

~ Omar Khayyám

Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse - and ThouBeside me singing in the Wilderness -And Wilderness is Paradise enow.

~ Omar Khayyám

Every particle of dust on a patch of earthWas a sun-cheek or brow of the morning star;Shake the dust off your sleeve carefully--That too was a delicate, fair face.

~ Omar Khayyám

From the house of unbeliefto true religionis a single breath;From the world of doubtto certaintyis a single breath;Enjoy this precious single breath,for the harvestof our whole livesis that same one breath.

~ Omar Khayyám

How much more of the mosque, of prayer and fasting?Better go drunk and begging round the taverns.Khayyam, drink wine, for soon this clay of yoursWill make a cup, bowl, one day a jar.When once you hear the roses are in bloom,Then is the time, my love, to pour the wine;Houris and palaces and Heaven and Hell-These are but fairy-tales, forget them all.

~ Omar Khayyám

O friend, for the morrow let us not worryThis moment we have now, let us not hurryWhen our time comes, we shall not tarryWith seven thousand-year-olds, our burden carry

~ Omar Khayyám

My tomb shall be in a spot where the north wind may scatter roses over it.

~ Omar Khayyám

You’ve seen the world, and all you’ve seen is nothing; and everything, as well, that you have said and heard is nothing. You’ve sprinted everywhere between here and the horizon; it is nothing. And all the possessions you’ve treasured up at home are nothing.

~ Omar Khayyám

As far as you can avoid it, do not give grief to anyone. Never inflict your rage on another. If you hope for eternal rest, feel the pain yourself; but don’t hurt others.

~ Omar Khayyám

It is a shame for anyoneto be well-known for righteousness.It is a great disgrace to feeldistress at the injustice of the turning of the wheels of fate.

~ Omar Khayyám

My coming brought no profit to the sky,Nor does my going swell its glory;My two ears have never heard anyone that could say,Why I came here and why I will go away.

~ Omar Khayyám

Oh threats of Hell and Hopes of Par

~ Omar Khayyám

Now the New Year reviving old Desires,The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires.

~ Omar Khayyám

The mighty Mahmúd, Allah-breathing Lord,That all the misbelieving and black HordeOf Fears and Sorrows that infest the SoulScatters before him with his whirlwind Sword.

~ Omar Khayyám

Where is an intimate friend who’ll hear the secret from me straight out– of what human beings have been from the moment they began? They are born of toil and molded from the clay of sorrow.They wander the world for a time, then set off.

~ Omar Khayyám

I can’t reveal the mystery to either saint or sinner, I can’t state at length what I’ve said curtly, I achieve an altered state that I can’t explain, I have a secret that I cannot share.

~ Omar Khayyám

I sometimes think that never blows so redThe Rose as where some buried Caesar bled,That every Hyacinth the Garden wearsDropt in its Lap from some once lovely Head.

~ Omar Khayyám

Were it not Folly, Spider-like to spinThe Thread of present Life away to win-What? for ourselves, who know not if we shallBreathe out the very Breath we now breathe in!

~ Omar Khayyám

The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.

~ Omar Khayyám

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.

~ Omar Khayyám

The moving finger writes, and having written moves on. Nor all thy piety nor all thy wit, can cancel half a line of it.

~ Omar Khayyám

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

~ Omar Khayyám

You know, my friends, with what a brave carouse I made a Second Marriage in my house; favored old barren reason from my bed, and took the daughter of the vine to spouse.

~ Omar Khayyám