Edward FitzGerald (poet) quotes

Edward FitzGerald was an English poet and literary scholar, celebrated for his translation of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. His adaptation brought Persian poetry to the attention of the English-speaking world and left a lasting cultural impact. He remains admired for his poetic sensitivity and unique contributions to literary translation. Here are 18 of his quotes:

Whether we wake or we sleep, Whether we carol or weep, The Sun with his Planets in chime, Marketh the going of Time.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

Leave well - even 'pretty well' - alone: that is what I learn as I get old.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

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!

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

Ah, Love! could you and I with Him conspire To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, Would not we shatter it to bits - and then Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

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!

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

Each Morn a thousand Roses brings, you say; Yes, but where leaves the Rose of Yesterday?

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

The King in a carriage may ride, And the Beggar may crawl at his side; But in the general race, They are traveling all the same pace.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

A book of verses underneath the bough, A jug of wine, a loaf of bread-and thou.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

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

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

If you can prove to me that one miracle took place, I will believe he is a just God who damned us all because a woman ate an apple.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

Having seen how many follow and have followed false religions, and having our reason utterly against many of the principal points of the Bible, we require the most perfect evidence of facts, before we can believe.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

Science unrolls a greater epic than the Iliad. The present day teems with new discoveries in Fact, which are greater, as regards the soul and prospect of men, than all the disquisitions and quiddities of the Schoolmen.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

Oh, come with old Khayyám, and leave the Wise To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies; One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies; The Flower that once blown for ever dies.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

Science unrolls a greater epic than the Iliad.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)

Having seen how many follow and have followed false religions, and having our reason utterly against many of the principal points of the Bible, we require the most perfect evidence of facts, before we can believe. If you can prove to me that one miracle took place, I will believe that he is a just God who damned us all because a woman ate an apple; and you can't expect greater complaisance than that to be sure.

Edward FitzGerald (poet)