Rumi
1207 – 1273
Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207–1273) was a 13th-century Persian Sufi mystic, jurist, and poet, born in present-day Afghanistan. After the arrival of the wandering mystic Shams-e Tabrizi, who became his spiritual companion and transformative influence, Rumi entered a period of extraordinary creativity, producing the Masnavi — a six-volume spiritual poem of over 25,000 verses. His central theme is love: the soul’s longing for reunion with the divine source from which it was separated.
Key works: Masnavi · Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi
Top quotes by Rumi
“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal.”
Read the full explanation →“When setting out on a journey do not seek advice from someone who never left home.”
Read the full explanation →“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
Read the full explanation →“You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens.”
Read the full explanation →“Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop away.”
Read the full explanation →“Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you.”
Read the full explanation →“Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious.”
Read the full explanation →“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.”
Read the full explanation →“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there.”
Read the full explanation →“Respond to every call that excites your spirit.”
Read the full explanation →
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