“Whoever thinks algebra is a trick in obtaining unknowns has thought it in vain.”

— Omar Khayyam, A. R. Amir-Moez, "A Paper of Omar Khayyam," Scripta Mathematica (1963)

About Omar Khayyam

1048 – 1131

Persian polymath and poet, whose quatrains were popularised in English by Edward FitzGerald.

“The Bird of Time has but a little way to fly—and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.”

“Ah, take the Cash in hand and wave the Rest; Oh, the brave Music of a distant Drum!”

“The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.”

“Any one thing in the creation is sufficient to demonstrate a Providence to an humble and grateful mind.”

“Why, what is weeping and sighing? A judgement. What is misfortune? A judgement.”

“For God made all mankind to be happy, to be serene.”

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

“Remember that all is opinion.”