There’s something timeless about Persian poetry.
I love how a few simple lines can hold centuries of wisdom, a universe of emotion, and just the right words you didn’t know your soul needed. Persian quotes are different and have the ability to pierce through your heart.
They make you reflect on life deeply. And I am here for anything deep and soul-stirring.
In this collection, I’ve gathered 125 authentic Persian quotes from the great masters—Rumi, Saadi, Hafez, Ferdowsi, Attar, etc.
Each one is like a window into the heart: sometimes soft and soulful, sometimes bold and challenging, but always rich with truth.
No matter if you’re looking for something to stir your spirit, comfort your heart, or fall in love with the beauty of language again, there’s something here waiting for you.
So take your time. Read slowly. Let the words linger a little longer than usual.
Disclaimer:
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of these quotes, please note that some of them are translated from Persian and may be lightly paraphrased for clarity or flow in English.
Where possible, sources and original attributions have been included, but exact lines may vary across translations.
Many of the original lines come from poetic works like the Masnavi, Divan-e-Hafez, Gulistan, Bustan, and Shahnameh, where multiple translations exist.
These quotes are inspired by the spirit and teachings of Persian poetry and Sufi philosophy. Every effort has been made to preserve the original meaning, tone, and cultural depth.
This collection is meant to honor the spirit and wisdom of the original texts while making them more accessible to modern readers. When available, known sources or books have been matched as closely as possible.
Persian Quotes on Love & Longing
Persian poets knew how to write about love, not just sweet romance, but the ache, the yearning, and the divine pull of the heart. These quotes are full of passion, depth, and soul-stirring emotion.
- “The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you.”
— Rumi - “You are the soul of the soul of the universe, and your name is Love.”
— Rumi - “Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky.”
— Hafez - “I closed my mouth and spoke to you in a hundred silent ways.”
— Rumi - “Love rests on no foundation. It is an endless ocean, with no beginning or end.”
— Rumi - “Be foolishly in love, because love is all there is.”
— Rumi - “Let us fall in love again and scatter gold dust all over the world.“
— Rumi - “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
— Rumi - “I was dead, then alive. Weeping, then laughing. The power of love came into me, and I became fierce like a lion, then tender like the evening star.”
— Rumi - “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
— Rumi
Quotes on Wisdom & Life
Sometimes you need a few lines to shift your perspective. These quotes offer everyday wisdom with a timeless feel-lessons in living, loving, and staying grounded.
11. “Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”
— Rumi
12. “Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”
— Saadi
13. “The wound is the place where the light enters you.”
— Rumi
14. “Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.”
— Rumi
15. “Knowledge without action is insanity, and action without knowledge is vanity.”
— Imam Ghazali
16. “Virtue is in the mind, not in the appearance.”
— Saadi
17. “A wise man among the ignorant is as a beautiful girl in the company of blind men.”
— Saadi
18. “Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live through you.”
— Rumi
19. “Forgiveness is commendable, but apply not ointment to the wound of an oppressor.”
— Saadi
20. “The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything you want, you already are.”
— Rumi
Quotes on Time, Fate & Mortality
The world turns, seasons change, and nothing lasts forever. These quotes reflect on fate, impermanence, and the mystery of life’s unfolding path.
21. “With life as short as a half-taken breath, don’t plant anything but love.”
— Rumi
22. “Wake up, life is slipping away.”
— Omar Khayyam
23. “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”
— Omar Khayyam
24. “Awake, O heart, for the world is passing by, And this precious life is slipping away for free.”
— Rumi
25. “Life will give you nothing that it will not take back.“
— Hafez
26. “Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend, Before we too into the dust descend.”
— Omar Khayyam
27. “Everything waits for its time. Even a rose doesn’t bloom before its time. Even the sun doesn’t rise before its time.
Wait, one who belongs to you will come to you in its time.”
— Rumi
28. “Stop chasing what is running away. What is meant for you will come in its own time”
— Rumi
29. “The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart.”
— Rumi
30. “Patience is not about waiting. It’s about trusting the journey.”
— Rumi
Quotes on Self & Soul
Who are we beneath the surface?
If you like to immerse yourself in such deep thoughts, these quotes dive into the inner world – the soul, the self, and that quiet place where transformation begins.
31. “You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”
— Rumi
32. “The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand.”
— Rumi
33. “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.”
— Rumi
34. “My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that, and I intend to end up there.”
— Rumi
35. “Tis neither body nor soul, for I myself am the Beloved. I have cast aside duality, I have seen the two worlds as one.”
— Rumi
36. “There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.”
— Rumi
37. “I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being!”
— Hafez
38. “Be silent, so that divine spirit may speak.”
— Rumi
39. “The soul’s journey is a return to endless love.”
— Rumi
40. “I am not this hair, I am not this skin, I am the soul that lives within.”
— Hafez
41. “The soul that left the cage has now become the guide.”
— Attar
42. “When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.”
— Rumi
43. “When you let go of who you think you are, you become who you really are: a soul, vast and unbound.”
— Rumi
44. “If your soul is awake, the whole world is a book of wisdom.”
— Saadi
45. “Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?”
— Rumi
Quotes on Faith & Spirituality
Whether you call it God, the Universe, or simply the divine, these quotes speak to something greater. They’re a reminder of trust, surrender, and spiritual connection.
46. “I have put duality away. I have seen the two worlds as one.”
— Rumi
47. “Silence is the language of God, all else is poor translation.”
— Rumi
48. “I am the slave of love—wherever it carries me, I follow.”
— Hafez
49. “Every leaf in the garden points to the divine artist.”
— Hafez
50. “Every breath prolongs life and every expiration gladdens the soul; therefore, every breath confers a blessing, and gratitude should be given.”
— Saadi
51. “Close both eyes to see with the other eye.”
— Rumi
52. “When you let go of yourself, you return to your real self.”
— Rumi
53. “Be silent, so that the Lord who gave you speech may speak.”
— Rumi
54. “The moment you accept what troubles you’ve been given, the door will open.”
— Rumi
55. “In the house of the heart, the candle of God is lit – Why go knocking at the doors of the world?”
— Hafez
56. “Don’t seek the water, become thirsty—so that the water may find you.”
— Rumi
57. “I asked: ‘What is the purpose of prayer? He said: ‘To remind your soul what it already knows.“
— Omar Khayyam
58. “Purify your intention before your words – That is the true beginning of prayer.”
— Saadi
59. “Do not think your loud prayer is heard, when your heart is far from God.”
— Saadi
60. “There’s a prayer that is not made of words – It rises from the heart, in flames of longing.”
— Rumi
Quotes on Nature & Beauty
From blooming roses to the silence of the desert, Persian poets saw beauty everywhere. These quotes celebrate the natural world and the quiet wonder it brings.
61. “The garden of the world has no limits except in your mind.”
— Rumi
62. “A rose’s rarest essence lives in the thorn.”
— Rumi
63. “The moon stays bright when it doesn’t avoid the night.”
— Rumi
64. “If the breeze passes through the tresses of the beloved, the rose will bloom from joy in the garden.”
— Hafez
65. “The fragrance of the rose stays on the hand that gives it.”
— Saadi
66. “The garden’s glory fades, but the scent of the flower endures.”
— Hafez
67. “From the mountain’s heart flows water, bringing life to every dry field.”
— Ferdowsi
68. “A thorn in the path teaches more than a thousand roses.”
— Persian proverb
69. “The beauty of the moon is not in its shape, but in the light it casts on the rose garden.”
— Hafez
70. “Even the nightingale learns its song from the silence of the garden.”
— Saadi
71. “Each leaf that falls speaks of life’s turning page.”
— Saadi
72. “The tulip does not envy the rose. Each blooms in its own time, with its own grace.”
— Hafez
73. “The rose said to the thorn: I too have known pain.”
— Saadi
74. “The rose’s beauty does not last, but its scent clings to the soul forever.”
— Attar
75. “Spring passes, and one remembers the innocence of leaves.”
— Rumi
Quotes on Courage & Honor
Strength isn’t always loud—and these quotes prove it.
Here you’ll find powerful lines on bravery, dignity, and standing tall through life’s trials.
76. “Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”
— Rumi
77. “A hero who does not fear death for his country is stronger than the chair he sits upon.”
— Ferdowsi
78. “A liberality of the hand is better than a strong arm.”
— Saadi
79. “Though thou art strong of arm, let thy mouth utter sweet words; it is no proof of courage to thrust thy fist into another man’s face.”
— Saadi
80. “He who reaches the king does not fear the lion in the path.”
— Attar
81. “Bravery is not to strike first, but to endure insult and still act justly.”
— Saadi
82. “He who cannot bear a word of criticism is weaker than a child.”
— Saadi
83. “The brave man speaks little but acts with dignity.”
— Saadi
84. “Better to fall in battle with honor than live with shame.”
— Saadi
85. “The lion who breaks the enemy’s ranks is a minor hero compared to the lion who overcomes himself.”
— Rumi
86. “Don’t run from the fire, dive into it. That’s where the light is.”
— Rumi
87. “He who seeks the Beloved must lose all fear—even of himself.”
— Attar
88. “The way is not for the timid. If you cannot bear thorns, do not crave the rose.”
— Attar
89. “Keep silent, because the world of silence is a vast fullness.”
— Rumi
90. “Though you have the strength to tear a man apart, true courage is to forgive when you can punish.”
— Saadi
Quotes on Friendship & Humanity
Kindness, connection, and compassion run deep in Persian poetry. These quotes reflect what it means to truly see and stand by one another.
91. “Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul.”
— Saadi (this is inscribed at the UN headquarters)
92. “A friend is the mirror of a person.”
— Saadi
93. “Go on! Go on! We are going, and we are coming, O soul, from this world of separation to union, a companion to the companion.”
— Rumi
94. “A friendless man is like the left hand without the right.”
— Saadi
95. “Companionship of the good is better than solitude, and solitude is better than companionship of the bad.”
— Bayazid Bastami
96. “A good companion is better than a lamp for those who walk by night.”
— Saadi
97. “Generosity does not age the noble-hearted.”
— Saadi
98. “Generosity is not of wealth, but of character.”
— Saadi
99. “Do not sit with the wicked, for bad company, though you are pure, can taint you.”
— Rumi
100. “Don’t make friends with those who make you forget yourself.”
— Rumi
101. “I am the slave of love, and of those who are bound by love.”
— Rumi
102. “Be generous, for helping (others) suits you. No one ever dies or becomes less by giving.”
— Saadi
103. “If you are indifferent to the suffering of others, you are unworthy of the name human.”
— Saadi
104. “A traitor cannot expect loyalty.”
— Saadi
105. “A good man resembles a spring: he gives water to both rose and thorn.”
— Saadi
106. “Do good unto the people, though it may fall into the sea; for God will recompense it, even if it is done in secret.”
— Saadi
107. “A little kindness is better than a world of indifference.”
— Saadi
108. “Whatever you do, you do to yourself – be it good or bad.
— Rumi
109. “The children of Adam are limbs of one body.”
— Saadi
110. “A friend is known in hardship; an enemy reveals himself in your downfall.”
— Saadi
Quotes on Legacy & Destiny
What we leave behind matters. These quotes are all about purpose, impact, and trusting that our good will echo long after we’re gone.
111. “Plant a tree that will satisfy the people’s needs, not one whose shade falls only on yourself.”
— Saadi
112. “Be like the sun in generosity and kindness.”
— Rumi
113. “Goodness is never wasted, even if done in secret or for the unworthy.”
— Saadi
114. “Do not think a man noble because of his dress. A man’s nobility is in his character, not in his robe.”
— Saadi
115. “Honor is not in gold or lineage, but in wisdom, courage, and virtue.”
— Ferdowsi
116. “He who has neither knowledge nor virtue is like a barren tree; he only takes up space.”
— Saadi
117. “Pain pulls a man out of the world of distractions. It awakens him.”
— Rumi
118. “No one is deprived of the fruit of goodness; The doer of good receives reward from every direction.“
— Ferdowsi
119. “The Pen has written what it must and moved on. Why complain about what could not have been?
— Rumi
120. “Destiny overcomes all, my son. Neither strength nor skill can repel it.“
— Ferdowsi
121. “What is fated will come to pass, even if you hide in a fortress of brass.”
— Ferdowsi
122. “When the night grows dark, a light will appear; From the moon, the sun, or a shining star.
— Ferdowsi
123. “Fate may close a door, but effort finds a window.”
— Saadi
124. “Though fate bestows, it is effort that delivers. The pearl lies deep—only the diver finds it.”
— Saadi
125. “Since it is God who gives, good and bad shall pass. Grieve not, for this too shall pass.”
— Hafez
WRAPPING UP
Persian poets didn’t just write poetry—they wrote lifelines.
In times of joy, sorrow, confusion, or wonder, these words offer something real: a little light, a little clarity, a little companionship on the path.
I hope these 125 quotes spoke to you like they speak to me—reminding us that truth has many voices, and some of the most powerful ones were written centuries ago, under desert skies, in candlelit rooms, by souls who understood life better than most.
Bookmark your favorites. Share them with a friend. Or just carry a line or two with you into the day.
Because as Saadi once wrote:
“Words born of the heart, settle in the heart.”
