“People talk about the Creator -But surely he didn't create man onlyto destroy him later! Because we are bad? Andwho's to blame for that? Or because we are beautiful?I can't make any sense of it.”

“Today is the time of my youthI drink wine because it is my solace;Do not blame me, although it is bitter it is pleasant,It is bitter because it is my life.”

“When Allah created me, he knew that Iwould drink a lot of wine. So if I didn't, theomniscience of Allah would stand on its head.”

“When you are so full of sorrowthat you can't walk, can't cry anymore,think about the green foliage that sparkles afterthe rain. When the daylight exhausts you, whenyou hope a final night will cover the world,think about the awakening of a young child.”

“And that inverted Bowl we call The Sky,Whereunder crawling coop't we live and die, Lift not thy hands to it for help -- for ItRolls impotently on as Thou or I.”

“To all of us the thought of heaven is dear ---Why not be sure of it and make it here?No doubt there is a heaven yonder too, But 'tis so far away --- and you are near.”

“Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,Before we too into the Dust descend;Dust into Dust, and under Dust to lieSans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and--sans End!Alike for those who for To-day prepare,And those that after some To-morrow stare,A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries"Fools! your Reward is neither Here nor There.”