Omar Khayyam

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!

c. 11th-12th Century — Rubaiyat, Stanza 12

Controversial Unverifiable

Some for the Glories of This World; and some Sigh for the Prophet’s Paradise to come; Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go, Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!

c. 11th-12th Century — Rubaiyat, Stanza 13

Controversial Unverifiable

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.

c. 11th-12th Century — Rubaiyat, Stanza 68

Controversial Unverifiable

The Grape that can with Logic absolute The Two-and-Seventy jarring Sects confute: The sovereign Alchemist that in a trice Life’s leaden Metal into Gold can transmute.

c. 11th-12th Century — Rubaiyat, Stanza 59

Controversial Unverifiable

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.

c. 11th-12th Century — Rubaiyat, Stanza 12 (variant)

Controversial Unverifiable

Earth’s Secret to a starting Point of Glass Was solved for me; it was the Glass that was the Cause.

c. 11th-12th Century — Rubaiyat (less common translation/interpretation)

Controversial Unverifiable

For let us make our Fête of to-day, for to-morrow we are gone, and what we have enjoyed is gone, and we are gone, and gone is our memory too.

c. 11th-12th Century — Rubaiyat (interpretation of a quatrain)

Controversial Unverifiable

And this I know: whether the one True Light Kindle to Love, or Wrath consume me quite, One thing is certain, and the rest is Lies; The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.

c. 11th-12th Century — Rubaiyat, Stanza 63

Controversial Unverifiable

Let us drink wine, for it is the life of eternity, and the joy of youth, and the companion of old age, and the soul of pleasure.