Attar of Nishapur quotes

Attar of Nishapur was a Persian poet, mystic, and philosopher who greatly influenced Sufi literature. His famous works, such as "The Conference of the Birds," explore spiritual themes and the journey toward enlightenment. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in Persian poetry and Sufism. Here are 21 of his quotes:

The Sea Will be the Sea Whatever the drop's philosophy. (Attar of Nishapur)
Joy! Joy! I triumph! Now no more I know Myself as simply me. I burn with love Unto myself, and bury me in love. The centre is within me and its wonder Lies as a circle everywhere about me. Joy! Joy! No mortal thought can fathom me. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Thou all Creation art, all we behold, but Thou, The soul within the body lies concealed, And Thou dost hide Thyself within the soul, O soul in soul! Myst'ry in myst'ry hid! Before all wert Thou, and are more than all! View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Do all you can to become a bird of the Way to God; Do all you can to develop your wings and your feathers. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
All things are but masks at God's beck and call, They are symbols that instruct us that God is all. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
He who would know the secret of both worlds, Will find the secret of them both, is Love. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Your face is neither infinite nor ephemeral. You can never see your own face, only a reflection, not the face itself. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Sin and Contrition - Retribution owed, And cancell'd - Pilgrim, Pilgrimage, and Road, Was but Myself toward Myself: and Your Arrival but Myself at my own Door... View quote
Attar of Nishapur
All you have been, and seen, and done, and thought, Not You but I, have seen and been and wrought: I was the Sin that from Myself rebell'd: I the Remorse that tow'rd Myself compell'd... View quote
Attar of Nishapur
I shall grasp the soul's skirt with my hand and stamp on the world's head with my foot. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
What you most want, what you travel around wishing to find, lose yourself as lovers lose themselves, and you'll be that. (Attar of Nishapur)
In Love no longer "thou" and "I" exist, For Self has passed away in the Beloved. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Know then, that both this visible world and that Which unseen is, alike are God Himself, Naught is, save God: and all that is, is God. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Yet what are seas and what is air? For all Is God, and but a talisman are heaven and earth To veil Divinity. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
From each a mystic silence Love demands. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Joy! Joy! I triumph! Now no more I know Myself as simply me. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Come you lost Atoms to your Centre draw, And be the Eternal Mirror that you saw. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Since I have neither sign nor name I shall speak only of things unnamed and without sign. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
I shall grasp the soul's skirt with my hand and stamp on the world's head with my foot. I shall trample Matter and Space with my horse, beyond all Being I shall utter a great shout, and in that moment when I shall be alone with Him, I shall whisper secrets to all mankind. Since I have neither sign nor name I shall speak only of things unnamed and without sign. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
From each a mystic silence Love demands. What do all seek so earnestly? 'Tis Love. What do they whisper to each other? Love. Love is the subject of their inmost thoughts. In Love no longer "thou" and "I" exist, For Self has passed away in the Beloved. View quote
Attar of Nishapur
Come you lost Atoms to your Centre draw, And be the Eternal Mirror that you saw: Rays that have wander'd into Darkness wide Return and back into your Sun subside. (Attar of Nishapur)