The collection / 33 fragments

The living archive

Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

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01Undated

It is a shame for anyoneto be well-known for righteousness.It is a great disgrace to feeldistress at the injustice of the turning of the wheels of fate.

Omar Khayyám / quote

02Undated

My coming brought no profit to the sky,Nor does my going swell its glory;My two ears have never heard anyone that could say,Why I came here and why I will go away.

Omar Khayyám / quote

03Undated

Oh threats of Hell and Hopes of Par

Omar Khayyám / quote

04Undated

Now the New Year reviving old Desires,The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires.

Omar Khayyám / quote

05Undated

The mighty Mahmúd, Allah-breathing Lord,That all the misbelieving and black HordeOf Fears and Sorrows that infest the SoulScatters before him with his whirlwind Sword.

Omar Khayyám / quote

06Undated

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 / quote

07Undated

Were it not Folly, Spider-like to spinThe Thread of present Life away to win-What? for ourselves, who know not if we shallBreathe out the very Breath we now breathe in!

Omar Khayyám / quote

08Undated

The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.

Omar Khayyám / quote

09Undated

Whether at Naishápúr or Babylon, Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run, The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.

Omar Khayyám / quote