Omar Khayyam

Drink wine, for this is life's only truth.

The secret of life is to enjoy the passage of time.

The universe is a vast and mysterious place, and we are but a small part of it.

The past is gone, the future is uncertain, only the present is real.

Life is a journey, not a destination.

The greatest wealth is health.

The greatest victory is to conquer oneself.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

The only way to do great work is to love what you do.

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!

Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight: And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught The Sultán's Turret in a Shaft of Light.

Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry, 'Arise, my Love! my Lady fair, arise! O come and taste the old familiar Wine!'

Before the phantom of False morning died, Methought a Voice within the Tavern cried, 'When all the Temple is prepared within, Why nods the drowsy Porter on his side?'

And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before The Tavern shouted—'Open then the Door! You know how little while we have to stay, And, once departed, may return no more.'

Now the New Year reviving old Desires, The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires, Where the White Hand of Moses on the Bough Puts out, and Jesus from the Ground suspires.

Iram indeed is gone with all his Rose, And Jamshýd's Sev'n-ring'd Cup where no one knows; But still a Ruby gushes, and is gone In the Caravan's smoky column close.

The Voice of Time cries: 'Carpe diem!' Seize the day, for tomorrow may never come.

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 wherein I went.

With them the seed of Wisdom did I sow, And with mine own hand wrought to make it grow; And this was all the Harvest that I reaped— 'I came like Water, and like Wind I go.'

Into this Universe, and Why not knowing Nor Whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing; And out of it, as Wind along the Waste, I know not Whither, willy-nilly blowing.