---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Drink! for you know not whence you came…"
description: "\"Drink! for you know not whence you came nor why: drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.\" — Omar Khayyam"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/omar-khayy-m-1787_drink_drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-n_3159050.png"
---

#  Drink! for you know not whence you came nor why: drink!…

![“Drink! for you know not whence you came nor why: drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.” quote by Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/omar-khayy-m-1787_drink_drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-n_3159050.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/omar-khayy-m-1787_drink_drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-n_3159050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/omar-khayy-m-1787_drink_drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-n_3159050.png)

> “Drink! for you know not whence you came nor why: drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.”

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life’s uncertainty urges us to enjoy the present, as origins and purposes remain unknown.

**In simple terms:** Live now because we don’t know why we’re here.

Key Takeaway

Savor the moment without overthinking.

Themes

impermanence joy existentialism

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- celebrations
- travel
- daily decisions

Key Concepts

carpe diem uncertainty philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What moment will you cherish today?
- How do you handle life’s unknowns?

A Different Perspective

May ignore long‑term consequences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/)

## Related quotes

> [Drink! for you know not when you came, nor why; Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/drink-for-you-know-not-when-you-came-nor-why-drink-for-you-know-not/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [Drink! For you know not whence you came nor why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-nor-why/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [Yesterday This Day's Madness did prepare; tomorrow's Silence, Triumph, or Despair: Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why: Drink! for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/yesterday-this-day-s-madness-did-prepare-tomorrow-s-silence-triumph/)

[Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/)

> [WHEN CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS SPIKE YOUR DRINK! YOU THEN KNOW HOW EVIL THEY ARE,AND THAT YOU ARE ABOVE THEM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-certain-family-members-spike-your-drink-you-then-know-how-evil/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The trough was full and faithful Tray / Came out to drink one sultry day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-hoffman/the-trough-was-full-and-faithful-tray-came-out-to-drink-one-sultry-day/)

Heinrich Hoffman

> [“I came here to drink milk and kick ass. And I've just finished my milk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-moss/i-came-here-to-drink-milk-and-kick-ass-and-i-ve-just-finished-my-milk/)

Maurice Moss

> [“Yesterday This Day's Madness did prepare; To-morrow's Silence, Triumph, or Despair: Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why: Drink! for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/yesterday-this-day-s-madness-did-prepare-to-morrow-s-silence-triumph/)

[Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman came to see our show, We all had a drink before they set off on their travels, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-jones/ewan-mcgregor-and-charley-boorman-came-to-see-our-show-we-all-had-a/)

[Kelly Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-jones/)

> [Whence, then, did the cathedral derive its power? Clearly here: It took back the family into the confidences of religion. It taught man and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenkin-lloyd-jones/whence-then-did-the-cathedral-derive-its-power-clearly-here-it-took/)

[Jenkin Lloyd Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenkin-lloyd-jones/)

> [Value is consequently the necessary theoretical starting point whence we can elucidate the peculiar phenomenon of prices resulting from capitalist competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-hiferding/value-is-consequently-the-necessary-theoretical-starting-point-whence/)

[Rudolf Hiferding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-hiferding/)

> [Like the winds that we come we know not whence and blow whither soever they list, the forces of society are derived from an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ferguson/like-the-winds-that-we-come-we-know-not-whence-and-blow-whither/)

[Adam Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ferguson/)

> [Emotional life grows out of an area of the brain called the limbic system, specifically the amygdala, whence come delight and disgust and fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/emotional-life-grows-out-of-an-area-of-the-brain-called-the-limbic/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [Damn you villains, who are you? And from whence came you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/damn-you-villains-who-are-you-and-from-whence-came-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Music is intangible and ephemeral, but it comes from the home world of the spirit, and though so fleeting, it is recognized by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/music-is-intangible-and-ephemeral-but-it-comes-from-the-home-world-of/)

[Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/)

> [Love is higher than the Highest. Love is greater than the Greatest. Yea, it is in a certain sense greater than God; while yet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/love-is-higher-than-the-highest-love-is-greater-than-the-greatest-yea/)

[Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/)

## More by Omar Khayyam

> [“The secrets eternal neither you know nor I And answers to the riddle neither you know nor I Behind the veil there is much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/the-secrets-eternal-neither-you-know-nor-i-and-answers-to-the-riddle/)

[Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [“And do you think that unto such as you A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew God gave a secret, and denied it me? Well, well—what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/and-do-you-think-that-unto-such-as-you-a-maggot-minded-starved/)

[Omar Khayyâm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [How much more of the mosque, of prayer and fasting? Better go drunk and begging round the taverns. Khayyam, drink wine, for soon this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/how-much-more-of-the-mosque-of-prayer-and-fasting-better-go-drunk-and/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [“It is a shame for anyone to be well-known for righteousness. It is a great disgrace to feel distress at the injustice of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/it-is-a-shame-for-anyone-to-be-well-known-for-righteousness-it-is-a/)

[Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [“Why do you sell your wine, merchant? What can they give you in exchange for your wine? Money? … And what can money give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/why-do-you-sell-your-wine-merchant-what-can-they-give-you-in-exchange/)

[Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [“Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside, And naked on the Air of Heaven ride, Is it not a Shame--is it not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/why-if-the-soul-can-fling-the-dust-aside-and-naked-on-the-air-of/)

[Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [Don't cry upon you losses Don't mesure today with tommorows Don't trust to passed and coming day Believe in now - and be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/don-t-cry-upon-you-losses-don-t-mesure-today-with-tommorows-don-t/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [In monasteries, seminaries, retreats and synagogues, they fear hell and seek paradise. Those who know the mysteries of God never let that seed be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/in-monasteries-seminaries-retreats-and-synagogues-they-fear-hell-and/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [Living Life Tomorrow's fate, though thou be wise, Thou canst not tell nor yet surmise; Pass, therefore, not today in vain, For it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/living-life-tomorrow-s-fate-though-thou-be-wise-thou-canst-not-tell/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [“When your soul and mine have left our bodies and we are burried alongside each other, a Potter may one day mould the dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/when-your-soul-and-mine-have-left-our-bodies-and-we-are-burried/)

[Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [How sad, a heart that does not know how to love, that does not know what it is to be drunk with love. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/how-sad-a-heart-that-does-not-know-how-to-love-that-does-not-know/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go, Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/ah-take-the-cash-and-let-the-credit-go-nor-heed-the-rumble-of-a/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [Tomorrow! - Why, tomorrow I may be Myself with yesterday's sev'n thousand years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/tomorrow-why-tomorrow-i-may-be-myself-with-yesterday-s-sev-n-thousand/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happening-today-or-try-to-decide/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [“Today is the time of my youth I drink wine because it is my solace; Do not blame me, although it is bitter it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/today-is-the-time-of-my-youth-i-drink-wine-because-it-is-my-solace-do/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

[Explore all 190 Omar Khayyam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

## More Drink quotes

> [When you drink from the stream remember the spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverbs/when-you-drink-from-the-stream-remember-the-spring/)

Chinese Proverbs

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/)

[Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/)

> [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/)

[Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/)

> [“Never date a man who can’t out-drink you in tequila.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-l-maxwell/never-date-a-man-who-can-t-out-drink-you-in-tequila/)

[Gina L. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-l-maxwell/)

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [“Obediently, I squash into a corner with a glass of cider. A chalkboard menu declares that the special of the day is stargazy pie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-madeleine/obediently-i-squash-into-a-corner-with-a-glass-of-cider-a-chalkboard/)

[Laura Madeleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-madeleine/)

> [I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-still-get-nervous-about-singing-i-drink-tea-with-honey-and-lemon/)

[Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/)

> [“I don't drink since it ruined the best thing I ever had.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-lauren/i-don-t-drink-since-it-ruined-the-best-thing-i-ever-had/)

[Kimberly Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-lauren/)

> [Before everyshow I do like a thousand... I drink ten glasses of water!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-brothers/before-everyshow-i-do-like-a-thousand-i-drink-ten-glasses-of-water/)

[Jonas Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-brothers/)

> [I've never even been into those supplements or any of that. I don't even drink energy shakes. I'm not into that kind of stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-ve-never-even-been-into-those-supplements-or-any-of-that-i-don-t/)

[Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/)

> [I get pretty focused when I start working on something. And I drink a lot of water, way more than most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-woodman/i-get-pretty-focused-when-i-start-working-on-something-and-i-drink-a/)

[Nick Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-woodman/)

> [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/)

[Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/)

> [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/)

[Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/)

Browse all 5,653 Drink quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Drink! for you know not whence you came nor why: drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Omar Khayyam"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-nor-why-drink-for-you-know-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Drink"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-nor-why-drink-for-you-know-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/omar-khayy-m-1787_drink_drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-n_3159050.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/omar-khayy-m-1787_drink_drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-n_3159050.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/omar-khayy-m-1787_drink_drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-n_3159050.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Drink! for you know not whence you came nor why: drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.” — Omar Khayyam",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Omar Khayyam",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Drink! for you know not whence...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-nor-why-drink-for-you-know-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/drink-for-you-know-not-whence-you-came-nor-why-drink-for-you-know-not/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
