Omar Khayyam (168) “neither servants nor masters”

Juan Cole 06/26/2012

In this life, all those who have
half a piece of bread
and a resting place
in which to nest;
who are neither servants
nor masters of others–
let them rejoice,
for their world is a happy one.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 168

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment. He is Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History at the University of Michigan He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Follow him on Twitter at @jricole or the Informed Comment Facebook Page