Li Bai quotes

Li Bai was a celebrated Chinese poet from the Tang dynasty, renowned for his romantic and imaginative poetry. His works often explored themes of nature, friendship, and the fleeting nature of life. He is regarded as one of the greatest poets in Chinese literature and his influence endures to this day. Here are 22 of his quotes:

All the birds have flown up and gone; A lonely cloud floats leisurely by. We never tire of looking at each other- Only the mountain and I. (Li Bai)
From the walls of Baidi high in the colored dawn To Jiangling by night-fall is three hundred miles, Yet monkeys are still calling on both banks behind me To my boat these ten thousand mountains away. View quote
Li Bai
Since life is but a dream, Why toil to no avail? View quote
Li Bai
We sit together, the mountain and me, until only the mountain remains. View quote
Li Bai
You ask why I make my home in the mountain forest, and I smile, and am silent, and even my soul remains quiet: it lives in the other world which no one owns. The peach trees blossom, The water flows. View quote
Li Bai
The world is like a great empty dream. Why should one toil away one's life? View quote
Li Bai
See how the Yellow River's waters move out of heaven, Entering the ocean, never to return. View quote
Li Bai
When the hunter sets traps only for rabbits, tigers and dragons are left uncaught. View quote
Li Bai
Before bed, the bright moon was shining. Now, I think the ground has a frost covering. I raise my head ... to view the bright moon, Then I lower my head ... and I think of home. View quote
Li Bai
Flying waters descending straight three thousand feet, Till I think the Milky Way has tumbled from the ninth height of Heaven. View quote
Li Bai
Oh, but it is high and very dangerous! Such travelling is harder than scaling the blue sky. (Li Bai)
You ask me why do I dwell in these green mountains, But I smile without a reply, only an easy mind. The river flows away silently, bearing the fallen peach blossoms, Here is another world, but not the world of men. View quote
Li Bai
I sat drinking and did not notice the dusk, Till falling petals filled the folds of my dress. View quote
Li Bai
I will mount a long wind some day and break the heavy waves, And set my cloudy sail straight and bridge the deep, deep sea. View quote
Li Bai
Here it is night: I stay at the Summit Temple. Here I can touch the stars with my hand. I dare not speak aloud in the silence For fear of disturbing the dwellers of Heaven. View quote
Li Bai
Leaving at dawn the White Emperor crowned with cloud, I've sailed a thousand li through Canyons in a day. With the monkeys' adieus the riverbanks are loud, My skiff has left ten thousand mountains far away. View quote
Li Bai
To find pleasure in life, make the most of the spring. View quote
Li Bai
Shade and light are different in every valley. View quote
Li Bai
Enjoy a cup of wine while you're alive! Do not care if your fame will not survive! View quote
Li Bai
Her robe is a cloud, her face a flower; Her balcony, glimmering with the bright spring dew, Is either the tip of earth's Jade Mountain, Or a moon-edged roof of paradise. View quote
Li Bai
A cup of wine, under the flowering trees; I drink alone, for no friend is near. Raising my cup I beckon the bright moon, For he, with my shadow, will make three men. The moon, alas, is no drinker of wine; Listless, my shadow creeps about at my side. Yet with the moon as friend and the shadow as slave I must make merry before the Spring is spent. To the songs I sing the moon flickers her beams; In the dance I weave my shadow tangles and breaks. While we were sober, three shared the fun; Now we are drunk, each goes his way. May we long share our odd, inanimate feast, And meet at last on the Cloudy River of the sky. (Li Bai)
On Mirror Lake outspread for miles and miles, The lotus lilies in full blossom teem. In fifth moon Xi Shi gathers them with smiles, Watchers o'erwhelm the bank of Yuoye Stream. Her boat turns back without waiting moonrise To royal house amid amorous sighs. View quote
Li Bai

Li Bai

Li Bai - Image
Occupation: Chinese Poet
Born: May 15, 701
Died: November 26, 762
Quotes count: 22
Wikipedia: Li Bai

Related authors

Du Fu - thumbnail
Du Fu  17 
Chinese Poet
Bai Juyi - thumbnail
Bai Juyi  12 
Chinese Poet
Wang Wei  14 
Poet
Li Qingzhao  3 
Writer
Du Mu - thumbnail
Du Mu  2 
Chinese Poet
Matsuo Bashō  65 
Japanese Poet
Confucius - thumbnail
Confucius  396 
Chinese Philosopher
Charles Bukowski - thumbnail
Charles Bukowski  564 
American Author
Laozi - thumbnail
Laozi  290 
Chinese Philosopher
Arthur Waley  21 
Translator