Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

97 Insightful Rumi Quotes That Will Continue To Guide Generations

Famous As: Persian Poet
Born On: September 30, 1207
Died On: December 17, 1273
Born In: Balkh, Afghanistan
Died At Age: 66
Rumi was an august Persian Sunni Muslim poet, theologian, jurist, Sufi mystic, and Islamic scholar, who lived during the 13th-century. His influence surpasses ethnic divisions and national borders. His spiritual legacy has been highly appreciated for past seven centuries. Rumi’s writings, thoughts and poems have been translated into a number of languages and have been converted into various formats. In the United States, Rumi has been described as the ‘top-selling’ and ‘the most popular’ poet. ‘Masnavi,’ which was composed in Konya, is considered to be one the most renowned poems in Persian language. His thoughts, writings and works have a large readership across the globe. We have covered some motivational thoughts and quotes by Rumi that will leave you thinking.
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Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

Rumi
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing 
and rightdoing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass the world is too full to talk about.

Rumi
The wound is the place where the Light enters you.

The wound is the place where the Light enters you.

Rumi
Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.

Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.

Rumi
What you seek is seeking you.

What you seek is seeking you.

Rumi
The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.

The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along.

Rumi
Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.

Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.

Rumi
Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.

Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.

Rumi
If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?

If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?

Rumi
You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?

You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?

Rumi
Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious.

Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious.

Rumi
When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.

When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.

Rumi
When I am with you, we stay up all night.
When you're not here, I can't go to sleep.
Praise God for those two insomnias!
And the difference between them.

When I am with you, we stay up all night. When you're not here, I can't go to sleep. Praise God for those two insomnias! And the difference between them.

Rumi
Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.

Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.

Rumi
Knock, And He'll open the door
Vanish, And He'll make you shine like the sun
Fall, And He'll raise you to the heavens
Become nothing, And He'll turn you into everything.

Knock, And He'll open the door Vanish, And He'll make you shine like the sun Fall, And He'll raise you to the heavens Become nothing, And He'll turn you into everything.

Rumi
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.

Rumi
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there.

My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there.

Rumi
Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.

Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.

Rumi
Silence is the language of god, 
all else is poor translation.

Silence is the language of god, all else is poor translation.

Rumi
Ignore those that make you fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards disease and death.

Ignore those that make you fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards disease and death.

Rumi
Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.

Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.

Rumi
In your light I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.

In your light I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.

Rumi
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along.

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along.

Rumi
Everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself.

Everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself.

Rumi
Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure.

Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure.

Rumi
I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.

I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.

Rumi
Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.

Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.

Rumi
Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Rumi
There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.
There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.
You feel it, don't you?

There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled. There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled. You feel it, don't you?

Rumi
Words are a pretext. It is the inner bond that draws one person to another, not words.

Words are a pretext. It is the inner bond that draws one person to another, not words.

Rumi
Travel brings power and love back into your life.

Travel brings power and love back into your life.

Rumi
Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

Rumi
Be empty of worrying.
Think of who created thought!

Why do you stay in prison
When the door is so wide open?

Be empty of worrying. Think of who created thought! Why do you stay in prison When the door is so wide open?

Rumi
Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames

Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames

Rumi
Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.

Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.

Rumi
This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.

Rumi
A thousand half-loves must be forsaken to take one whole heart home.

A thousand half-loves must be forsaken to take one whole heart home.

Rumi
We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.

We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.

Rumi
Suffering is a gift. In it is hidden mercy.

Suffering is a gift. In it is hidden mercy.

Rumi
Two there are who are never satisfied -- the lover of the world and the lover of knowledge.

Two there are who are never satisfied -- the lover of the world and the lover of knowledge.

Rumi
Sit, be still, and listen,
because you're drunk
and we're at
the edge of the roof.

Sit, be still, and listen, because you're drunk and we're at the edge of the roof.

Rumi
I know you're tired but come, this is the way.

I know you're tired but come, this is the way.

Rumi
Either give me more wine or leave me alone.

Either give me more wine or leave me alone.

Rumi
People want you to be happy.
Don't keep serving them your pain!

If you could untie your wings
and free your soul of jealousy,

you and everyone around you
would fly up like doves.

People want you to be happy. Don't keep serving them your pain! If you could untie your wings and free your soul of jealousy, you and everyone around you would fly up like doves.

Rumi
I have lived on the lip
of insanity, wanting to know reasons,
knocking on a door. It opens.
I've been knocking from the inside.

I have lived on the lip of insanity, wanting to know reasons, knocking on a door. It opens. I've been knocking from the inside.

Rumi
Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again , come , come.

Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again , come , come.

Rumi
Be melting snow.
Wash yourself of yourself.

Be melting snow. Wash yourself of yourself.

Rumi
Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.

Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.

Rumi
Take someone who doesn't keep score,
who's not looking to be richer, or afraid of losing,
who has not the slightest interest even
in his own personality: he's free.

Take someone who doesn't keep score, who's not looking to be richer, or afraid of losing, who has not the slightest interest even in his own personality: he's free.

Rumi
And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?

And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?

Rumi
Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah…it makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.

Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah…it makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.

Rumi
But listen to me. For one moment
quit being sad. Hear blessings
dropping their blossoms
around you.

But listen to me. For one moment quit being sad. Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you.

Rumi
Respond to every call 
that excites your spirit.

Respond to every call that excites your spirit.

Rumi
When you go through a hard period,
When everything seems to oppose you,
... When you feel you cannot even bear one more minute,
NEVER GIVE UP!
Because it is the time and place that the course will divert!

When you go through a hard period, When everything seems to oppose you, ... When you feel you cannot even bear one more minute, NEVER GIVE UP! Because it is the time and place that the course will divert!

Rumi
Reason is powerless in the expression of Love.

Reason is powerless in the expression of Love.

Rumi
A mountain keeps an echo deep inside. That's how I hold your voice.

A mountain keeps an echo deep inside. That's how I hold your voice.

Rumi
That which God said to the rose, and caused it to laugh in full-blown beauty, He said to my heart, and made it a hundred times more beautiful.

That which God said to the rose, and caused it to laugh in full-blown beauty, He said to my heart, and made it a hundred times more beautiful.

Rumi
Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.

Rumi
The cure for pain is in the pain.

The cure for pain is in the pain.

Rumi
I closed my mouth and spoke to you in a hundred silent ways.

I closed my mouth and spoke to you in a hundred silent ways.

Rumi
Who could be so lucky? Who comes to a lake for water and sees the reflection of moon.

Who could be so lucky? Who comes to a lake for water and sees the reflection of moon.

Rumi
You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens.

You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens.

Rumi
What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle.

What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle.

Rumi
You wander from room to room
Hunting for the diamond necklace
That is already around your neck!

You wander from room to room Hunting for the diamond necklace That is already around your neck!

Rumi
You are the universe in ecstatic motion.

You are the universe in ecstatic motion.

Rumi
These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.

These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.

Rumi
Christian, Jew, Muslim, shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the mystery, unique and not to be judged

Christian, Jew, Muslim, shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the mystery, unique and not to be judged

Rumi
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way. Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

Rumi
In Silence there is eloquence. Stop weaving and see how the pattern improves.

In Silence there is eloquence. Stop weaving and see how the pattern improves.

Rumi
Beauty surrounds us.

Beauty surrounds us.

Rumi
Only from the heart can you touch the sky.

Only from the heart can you touch the sky.

Rumi
You think because you understand 'one' you must also understand 'two', because one and one make two. But you must also understand 'and'.

You think because you understand 'one' you must also understand 'two', because one and one make two. But you must also understand 'and'.

Rumi
I was dead, then alive.
Weeping, then laughing.

The power of love came into me,
and I became fierce like a lion,
then tender like the evening star.

I was dead, then alive. Weeping, then laughing. The power of love came into me, and I became fierce like a lion, then tender like the evening star.

Rumi
At night, I open the window
and ask the moon to come
and press its face against mine.
Breathe into me.
Close the language-door
and open the love-window.
The moon won't use the door,
only the window.

At night, I open the window and ask the moon to come and press its face against mine. Breathe into me. Close the language-door and open the love-window. The moon won't use the door, only the window.

Rumi
The moon stays bright when it doesn't avoid the night.

The moon stays bright when it doesn't avoid the night.

Rumi
On a day
when the wind is perfect,
the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.
Today is such a
day.

On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty. Today is such a day.

Rumi
Here is a relationship booster
that is guaranteed to
work:

Every time your spouse or lover says something stupid
make your eyes light up as if you
just heard something
brilliant.

Here is a relationship booster that is guaranteed to work: Every time your spouse or lover says something stupid make your eyes light up as if you just heard something brilliant.

Rumi
Let the lover be disgraceful, crazy, absentminded. Someone sober will worry about things going badly. Let the lover be.

Let the lover be disgraceful, crazy, absentminded. Someone sober will worry about things going badly. Let the lover be.

Rumi
Remember. The way you make love is the way God will be with you.

Remember. The way you make love is the way God will be with you.

Rumi
Inside you there’s an artist you don’t know about… say yes quickly, if you know, if you’ve known it from before the beginning of the universe.

Inside you there’s an artist you don’t know about… say yes quickly, if you know, if you’ve known it from before the beginning of the universe.

Rumi
If you desire healing,
let yourself fall ill
let yourself fall ill.

If you desire healing, let yourself fall ill let yourself fall ill.

Rumi
Like a sculptor, if necessary,
carve a friend out of stone.
Realize that your inner sight is blind
and try to see a treasure in everyone.

Like a sculptor, if necessary, carve a friend out of stone. Realize that your inner sight is blind and try to see a treasure in everyone.

Rumi
They say there is a doorway from heart to heart, but what is the use of a door when there are no walls?

They say there is a doorway from heart to heart, but what is the use of a door when there are no walls?

Rumi
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep.

Rumi
When someone is counting out
gold for you, don't look at your hands,
or the gold. Look at the giver.

When someone is counting out gold for you, don't look at your hands, or the gold. Look at the giver.

Rumi
When you feel a peaceful joy, that's when you are near truth.

When you feel a peaceful joy, that's when you are near truth.

Rumi
Put your thoughts to sleep,
do not let them cast a shadow
over the moon of your heart.
Let go of thinking.

Put your thoughts to sleep, do not let them cast a shadow over the moon of your heart. Let go of thinking.

Rumi
God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites so that you will have two wings to fly, not one

God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites so that you will have two wings to fly, not one

Rumi
Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.

Rumi
Within tears, find hidden laughter
Seek treasures amid ruins, sincere one.

Within tears, find hidden laughter Seek treasures amid ruins, sincere one.

Rumi
My heart is so small
it's almost invisible.
How can You place 
such big sorrows in it?

My heart is so small it's almost invisible. How can You place such big sorrows in it? "Look," He answered, "your eyes are even smaller, yet they behold the world.

Rumi
You are a volume in the divine book
A mirror to the power that created the universe
Whatever you want, ask it of yourself
Whatever you’re looking for can only be found
Inside of you

You are a volume in the divine book A mirror to the power that created the universe Whatever you want, ask it of yourself Whatever you’re looking for can only be found Inside of you

Rumi
All people on the planet are children, except for a very few. No one is grown up except those free of desire.

All people on the planet are children, except for a very few. No one is grown up except those free of desire.

Rumi
Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.

Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.

Rumi
Give up to grace. The ocean takes care of each wave 'til it gets to shore. You need more help than you know.

Give up to grace. The ocean takes care of each wave 'til it gets to shore. You need more help than you know.

Rumi
Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon;
How much it can fill your room depends on its windows.

Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon; How much it can fill your room depends on its windows.

Rumi
There is a secret medicine given only to those who hurt so hard they can't hope.

The hopers would feel slighted if they knew.

There is a secret medicine given only to those who hurt so hard they can't hope. The hopers would feel slighted if they knew.

Rumi