Rumi was a 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic whose words inspired people across the world.
What makes Rumi’s poetry so special is how timeless it is. His words aren’t stuck in the past, they motivate you to reflect on life, love, and what it really means to be human.
I’ve picked 25 of Rumi’s most powerful quotes to inspire you. They’re simple to understand but filled with deep meaning.
Let’s dive into Rumi’s words and see what they can teach you about life.
Most Powerful Rumi Quotes
Rumi’s Quotes on Love and Connection
“Do not be satisfied with the stories that come before you. Unfold your own myth.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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’s Quotes on Self-Discovery
“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”
“Do not be a prisoner of the past. Become the architect of your future.”
“Do not be satisfied with the speech of your lips and the thought in your heart. Wisdom comes when the soul starts to speak.”
“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”
Rumi’s Quotes on Spirituality
“You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”
“Silence is the language of God; all else is poor translation.”
“The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand.”
“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.”
“Respond to every call that excites your spirit.”
Rumi’s Quotes on Change and Transformation
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
“Just as the phoenix rises from its ashes, you too can emerge from the depths of despair stronger and wiser.”
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”
“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.”
Rumi’s Quotes on Gratitude and Acceptance
“Do not be a small thought in a big world. Be the entire universe in a single being.”
“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”
“Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.”
“Why are you so enchanted by this world when a mine of gold lies within you?”
“Do not be satisfied with the exoteric form. Lift the veil and see what there is beyond.”
Recommended Reading
If you’re inspired by Rumi’s timeless wisdom and desire to explore his writings further, I highly recommend reading these books:
- “The Essential Rumi” by Coleman Barks – This book is a great way to explore Rumi’s poetry. Coleman Barks, who is really good at translating Rumi’s work, has put together a collection of Rumi’s best poems.
- “Rumi: The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing” – Translated by Coleman Barks – In this book, Coleman Barks continues his fantastic translation work, bringing Rumi’s passionate and deep poems to life.
These books dive deeper into Rumi’s words and thoughts. These are a great source to inspire you on your path of self-discovery and spiritual growth.
Your tips are applicable and pragmatic; I can see myself implementing them effortlessly.