179 quotes
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.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
As impotently moves as you or I.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
I sometimes think that never blows so red
The Rose as where some buried Cæsar bled;
That every Hyacinth the Garden wears
Dropt in its Lap from some once lovely Head.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
There is a chalice made with art profound,
And with its Maker’s approbation crowned,
Yet the world’s Potter takes His masterpiece
And dashes it to pieces on the ground.
A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Suppose the world goes well with you, what then?
When life’s last page is read and turned, what then?
Suppose you live a hundred years of bliss
Yea, and a hundred more to boot, what then?
A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
And this reviving Herb whose tender Green
Fledges the River-Lip on which we lean —
Ah, lean upon it lightly! for who knows
From what once lovely Lip it springs unseen!
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
Like foolish Prophets forth; their Words to Scorn
Are scatter'd, and their Mouths are stopt with Dust.
The Rubaiyat (1120)
Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss'd
Of the Two Worlds so wisely — they are thrust.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
And look — a thousand Blossoms with the Day
Woke — and a thousand scatter'd into Clay.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
All this of Pot and Potter—Tell me then,
Who is the Potter, pray, and who the Pot?
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1120)
But still a Ruby kindles in the Vine,
And many a Garden by the Water blows.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
My critics call me a philosopher
But Allah knows full well they greatly err,
I know not even what I am, much less
What is the reason that I sojourn here.
A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
O Thou who givest sight to emmet’s eyes
And strength to feeble limbs of puny flies
To Thee we will ascribe omnipotence
No meaner attribute to Thee applies.
A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Since all we gain in this abode of woe
Is sorrow’s pangs to feel and grief to know,
Happy are they that never come at all,
And they, that, having come, the soonest go.
A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
'Tis but a Tent where takes his one day's rest
A Sultan to the realm of Death addrest;
The Sultan rises, and the dark Ferrash
Strikes, and prepares it for another Guest.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
Heav'n but the Vision of fulfill'd Desire,
And Hell the Shadow from a Soul on fire,
Cast on the Darkness into which Ourselves,
So late emerged from, shall so soon expire.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
'Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days
Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays:
Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays,
And one by one back in the Closet lays.
FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859)
And fear not lest Existence closing your
Account should lose or know the type no more:
The Eternal Sáki from that Bowl has poured
Millions of Bubbles like us and will pour.
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1120)
For him that’s good my very life I’d sell,
Yea, though he trod me down, I’d count it well,
Men say ‘Inform us what and where is hell?’
Bad company will make this earth a hell.
A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
If you seek Him, abandon child and wife,
Forsake and sever all these ties to life;
All these are bonds that check your upward course,
Arise and cut these bonds as with a knife.
A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)