Edward Fitzgerald's The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Quotes

“A book of verses underneath the bough
A flask of wine, a loaf of bread and thou
Beside me singing in the wilderness
And wilderness is paradise now.”
― Omar Khayyám, Edward Fitzgerald's The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

“To all of us the thought of heaven is dear ---
Why not be sure of it and make it here?
No doubt there is a heaven yonder too,
But 'tis so far away --- and you are near.”
― Omar Khayyám, Edward Fitzgerald's The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

“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, Edward Fitzgerald's The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

“What is my true substance?
What will remain of me after my death?
Our life is as short as a raging fire:
flames the passer-by soon forgets,
ashes the wind blows away.
A man's life.”
― Omar Khayyám, Edward Fitzgerald's The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

“The scent of wine rising
from my grave will be so strong
that it will intoxicate passers-by.
There will be such an atmosphere of serenity
that couples in love will find it impossible
to tear themselves away.”
― Omar Khayyám, Edward Fitzgerald's The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

“I see a horseman disappearing into
the evening mist. Will he travel through woods
or across wild plains? Where is he heading? I don't know.
Tomorrow, will I be stretched out above or
below the earth? I don't know.”
― Omar Khayyám, Edward Fitzgerald's The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam