Hafez
Persian poet
Sayings by Hafez
The tavern is better than the mosque, and the corner of the wine-shop better than the niche of prayer.
Be not beguiled by world's delusive toy; The more you grasp, the more you lose the joy.
Drink wine and wreck the mosque, for the pious man who abstains will do a thousand worse things.
The ascetic’s robe is but a cloak of pride; it covers many a sin.
When the wind of love blows, even the dust rises into the world of meaning.
Go, tell the pious man to burn his prayer-book; his prayers are but hypocrisy.
The tavern is my Kaaba; the wine-cup is my prayer-niche.
What is the use of prayer when love is absent?
The preacher’s sermon is long and tedious; give me a flask of wine instead.
The ascetic scorns the drunkard, but who knows which of them is the greater sinner?