Omar Khayyam Quotes (29 Quotes)

But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays Upon this Checker-board of Nights and Days Hither and thither moves, and checks, and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays.

Yet Ah, that Spring should vanish with the Rose. That Youth's sweet-scented manuscript should close The Nightingale that in the branches sang Ah.

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.

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou.

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.

Living Life Tomorrow's fate, though thou be wise, Thou canst not tell nor yet surmise; Pass, therefore, not today in vain, For it will never come again.

Then to the Lip of this poor earthen Urn
I lean'd, the secret Well of Life to learn:
And Lip to Lip it murmur'd -- While you live,
Drink!

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

Drink! for you know not whence you came nor why: drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.

I sent my Soul through the Invisible,
Some letter of that After-life to spell:
And after many days my Soul return'd
And said, "Behold, Myself am Heav'n and Hell.

O 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 bloomed for ever dies.

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.

A hair divides what is false and true.

So when that Angel of the darker Drink At last shall find you by the river-brink, And, offering his Cup, invite your Soul Forth to your Lips to to quaff - you shall not shrink.

My friend, let's not think of tomorrow, but let's enjoy this fleeting moment of life

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.

There was a door to which I found no key: There was the veil through which I might not see.

Were it not Folly, Spider-like to spin
The Thread of present Life away to win --
What?

The thoughtful soul to solitude retires.

Tonight I will make a tun of wine, Set myself up with two bowls of it First I will divorce absolutely reason and religion, Then take to wife the daughter of the vine

And that inverted Bowl we call The Sky, Whereunder crawling coop't we live and die, Lift not thy hands to It for help --for It Rolls impotently on as Thou or I.

Oh, the brave Music of a distant Drum.

Ah make the most of what yet we may spend,Before we too into dust descend

When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.

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

Drunkards are doomed to hell, so men declare, Believe it not, 'tis but a foolish scare Heaven will be empty as this hand of mine, If none who love good drink find entrance there

Heaven but the Vision of fulfilled Desire. And Hell the Shadow from a Soul on fire.

Ah, fill the Cup - what boots it to repeat How Time is slipping underneath our Feet Unborn To-morrow, and dead Yesterday, Why fret about them if To-day be sweet.