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Omar Khayy, 1048 - 1131

Artist's conception of Khayyam for 1905 tr. of Rubaiyat by Adelaide Hanscom

Born: 18 May 1048, Neyshapur, Persia
Died: 4 December 1131, Neyshapur, Persia

The Persian mathematician and astronomer Omar Khayyám was born at Neyshapur, Persia on this day in 1048. Neyshapur is located in northeastern Iran at an elevation of 1250 m (4,101 feet) and was one of the principal cities of Islam at the time. Little is known of his early life although his name suggests his family was involved in tent making. He dramatically advanced algebra, solving problems and proving theorems that Europeans didn't catch up to for half a millennium, and calculated the length of the year to nine digits of precision, much more accurate than the Gregorian calendar that also came a half millennium later. Unbeknownst to his contemporaries, he also wrote several hundred rubaiyat (quatrains) which only found a wide audience in 1859 when Edward Fitzgerald first published an English translation of many of them.

Biography from Wikipedia and MacTutor History of Mathematics

Additional quotes from Wikiquote. Wikiquote entries are often "sourced" and may include items longer than those included here, particularly for poets, lyricists, and dramatists.

Omar Khayyam quotes:

Quotes found : 41 — (15 per page, this is page 1 of 3) 1 2 3 Next

• 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! permalink
      Omar Khayyám - XII The Rubaiyat (1120) Edward FitzGerald translation, fifth edition (1889)
  
  
• A hair divides what is false and true. permalink
      Omar Khayyam
  
  
• A moment guess'd — then back behind the Fold
  Immerst of Darkness round the Drama roll'd
  Which, for the Pastime of Eternity,
  He doth Himself contrive, enact, behold. permalink
      Omar Khayyám - LI The Rubaiyat (1120) Edward FitzGerald translation, fifth edition (1889)
  
  
• Ah make the most of what yet we may spend, before we too into dust descend. permalink
      Omar Khayyam
  
  
• And lately, by the Tavern Door agape,
  Came shining through the Dusk an Angel Shape
  Bearing a Vessel on his Shoulder; and
  He bid me taste of it; and 'twas — the Grape! permalink
      Omar Khayyám - LVIII The Rubaiyat (1120) Edward FitzGerald translation, fifth edition (1889)
  
  
• And much as Wine has play'd the Infidel,
  And robb'd me of my Robe of Honour — Well,
  I wonder often what the Vintners buy
  One half so precious as the stuff they sell. permalink
      Omar Khayyám - XCV The Rubaiyat (1120) Edward FitzGerald translation, fifth edition (1889)
  
  
• And that inverted Bowl they call the Sky,
  Whereunder crawling coop'd we live and die,
  Lift not your hands to It for help — for It
  As impotently moves as you or I. permalink
      Omar Khayyám - LXXII The Rubaiyat (1120) Edward FitzGerald translation, fifth edition (1889)
  
  
• As far as you can avoid it, do not give grief to anyone. Never inflict your rage on another. If you hope for eternal rest, feel the pain yourself; but don't hurt others. permalink
      Omar Khayyam
  
  
• Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. permalink
      Omar Khayyam
  
  
• Before the phantom of False morning died,
  Methought a Voice within the Tavern cried,
  "When all the Temple is prepared within,
  Why nods the drowsy Worshipper outside?" permalink
      Omar Khayyám - II The Rubaiyat (1120) Edward FitzGerald translation, fifth edition (1889)
  
  
• Behold the morning! Rise up, O youth and quickly fill thyself with this rosy wine sparkling from the crystal cup of the dawn! permalink
      Omar Khayyam
  
  
• By the help of God and with His precious assistance, I say that Algebra is a scientific art. The objects with which it deals are absolute numbers and measurable quantities which, though themselves unknown, are related to "things" which are known, whereby the determination of the unknown quantities is possible. permalink
      Omar Khayyam - Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra (1070)
  
  
• Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
  Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling:
  The Bird of Time bas but a little way
  To flutter — and the Bird is on the Wing. permalink
      Omar Khayyám - VII The Rubaiyat (1120) Edward FitzGerald translation, fifth edition (1889)
  
  
• Dead yesterdays and unborn tomorrows, why fret about it, if today be sweet? permalink
      Omar Khayyam
  
  
• Diversity of worship has divided the human race into seventy-two nations. From among all their dogmas, I have selected one, Divine Love. permalink
      Omar Khayyam
  
  

Quotes found : 41 — (15 per page, this is page 1 of 3) 1 2 3 Next

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