--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shall I still sigh for what I have not…" description: "\"“Shall I still sigh for what I have not got, Or try with cheerfulness to bear my lot? Fill up my cup! I know not if the breath I now am drawing is my l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/omar-khayy-m-1787_breath_shall-i-still-sigh-for-what-i-have-not-g_906926.png" --- # Shall I still sigh for what I have not got, Or try with… ![“Shall I still sigh for what I have not got, Or try with cheerfulness to bear my lot? Fill up my cup! I know not if the breath I now am drawing is my last, or not!” quote by Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/omar-khayy-m-1787_breath_shall-i-still-sigh-for-what-i-have-not-g_906926.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/omar-khayy-m-1787_breath_shall-i-still-sigh-for-what-i-have-not-g_906926.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/omar-khayy-m-1787_breath_shall-i-still-sigh-for-what-i-have-not-g_906926.png) > ““Shall I still sigh for what I have not got, Or try with cheerfulness to bear my lot? Fill up my cup! I know not if the breath I now am drawing is my last, or not!”” [Omar Khayyám](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. Contemplates mortality and the choice between lamenting unmet desires or embracing the present with joy, urging to savor life’s fleeting moments. **In simple terms:** Choose joy over regret in life’s uncertainty. Key Takeaway Live fully, cherish each breath. Themes mortality choice mindfulness Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily reflection - end‑of‑life contemplation - creative writing - personal journaling Key Concepts existentialism stoicism carpe diem Questions to Reflect On - What small joy can you embrace now? - How does acceptance of uncertainty affect your daily mood? A Different Perspective Life’s brevity may limit the ability to change circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ## Related quotes > [Haiku is not a shriek, a howl, a sigh, or a yawn; rather, it is the deep breath of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santoka-taneda/haiku-is-not-a-shriek-a-howl-a-sigh-or-a-yawn-rather-it-is-the-deep/) [Santoka Taneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santoka-taneda/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. 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It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/communities-tend-to-be-guided-less-than-individuals-by-conscience-and/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Here's a sigh to those who love me,And a smile to those who hate;And, whatever sky's above me,Here's a heart for every fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/here-s-a-sigh-to-those-who-love-me-and-a-smile-to-those-who-hate-and/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Ah what avails the sceptred race, Ah what the form divine! What every virtue, every grace! Rose Aylmer, all were thine. Rose Aylmer, whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/ah-what-avails-the-sceptred-race-ah-what-the-form-divine-what-every/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Whoe'er has travell'd life's dull round, Where'er his stages may have been, May sigh to think he still has found The warmest welcome at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/whoe-er-has-travell-d-life-s-dull-round-where-er-his-stages-may-have/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [your eyes... they're beautiful.you're beautiful." \*sigh\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/your-eyes-they-re-beautiful-you-re-beautiful-sigh/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Sigh like the wind--open your arms, your chest, your heart--and all creatures will hum to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-smith/sigh-like-the-wind-open-your-arms-your-chest-your-heart-and-all/) Penelope Smith > [Our sins are debts that none can pay but Christ. It is not our tears, but His blood; it is not our sighs, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/our-sins-are-debts-that-none-can-pay-but-christ-it-is-not-our-tears/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [To sigh, yet feel no pain; To weep, yet scarce know why; To sport an hour with Beauty's chain, Then throw it idly by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/to-sigh-yet-feel-no-pain-to-weep-yet-scarce-know-why-to-sport-an-hour/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [“Oh, baby girl," he says with a sigh. "I am so, so sorry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wiess/oh-baby-girl-he-says-with-a-sigh-i-am-so-so-sorry/) [Laura Wiess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wiess/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“How was she supposed to bear the prospect of never seeing him again? Never seeing his face light up simply because she had walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/how-was-she-supposed-to-bear-the-prospect-of-never-seeing-him-again/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) ## More by Omar Khayyám > [“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 Khayyám quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) ## More Breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [So we must do our very best Whatever life may bring And look beyond the winter chill To smell the breath of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-we-must-do-our-very-best-whatever-life-may-bring-and-look-beyond/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“He’s sitting so close, I can feel his breath on my cheek. My stomach flip-flops again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-sitting-so-close-i-can-feel-his-breath-on-my-cheek-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My life to yours. My breath beecome yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-life-to-yours-my-breath-beecome-yours/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Being able to be myself was like being able to exhale for the first time after holding my breath for years. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/404-ink/being-able-to-be-myself-was-like-being-able-to-exhale-for-the-first/) 404 Ink [Browse all 1,839 Breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Shall I still sigh for what I have not got, Or try with cheerfulness to bear my lot? Fill up my cup! 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