Hafiz
Khwaja Shams-ud-Din Muhammad Hafiz-e Shirazi
c. 1315-1390 • Persian
Sufism
Persian lyric poet whose ghazals of divine love and spiritual intoxication are recited throughout the Persian-speaking world.
Key Works
- Diwan of Hafiz
112
quotes in library
Quotes by Hafiz
112 quotes“My ruined heart is a pilgrim's lodge — the Friend visits it nightly.”
intimacyDivan (Bicknell 1875)
“The angels themselves came knocking at our door — and I was the wine.”
ecstasyDivan (Clarke 1891)
“Speak softly, for the Beloved listens through every ear.”
speechDivan (Browne 1906)
“Hafiz, on the path of love, the first lesson is to lose the head.”
surrenderDivan (Bicknell 1875)
“The drunkard knows what the cleric does not.”
wisdomDivan (Clarke 1891)
“Where reason halts, the wine of love takes a step further.”
loveDivan (Clarke 1891)
“O lover, do not fear the night — the Beloved comes when the lamps are dim.”
darknessDivan (Browne 1906)
“In darkness, the perfume of the rose is sharper.”
darknessDivan (Clarke 1891)
“Be silent — the Friend will speak from your own breath.”
silenceDivan (Bicknell 1875)
“My heart's wound has healed in the gaze of the Friend.”
healingDivan (Clarke 1891)
“There is no mosque, no tavern, no seat of learning — wherever the lover is, that is the place.”
presenceDivan (Browne 1906)
“Forsake all that holds you back — the tavern door swings open.”
freedomDivan (Bicknell 1875)
“Hafiz, do not measure the Friend's mercy by your faults.”
mercyDivan (Clarke 1891)
“The cup that is broken is the cup that holds the most light.”
alchemyDivan (Clarke 1891)
“Know that the rose tears its own veils to give its scent.”
sacrificeDivan (Browne 1906)
“Yesterday I drank the wine of the Friend, and tomorrow my song is unbound.”
freedomDivan (Bicknell 1875)
“In the orchard of love, even the thorn is a teacher.”
teachingDivan (Clarke 1891)
“The lover's tongue is silenced — only the eyes speak.”
silenceDivan (Clarke 1891)
“O ascetic, mock not the drunkard — the way is wide.”
opennessDivan (Bicknell 1875)
Explore More Teachers
Discover wisdom from 500+ spiritual teachers across all traditions.
Browse All Teachers