---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Would you be happy! hearken, then, the…"
description: "\"“Would you be happy! hearken, then, the way: Heed not to-morrow, heed not yesterday; The magic words of life are here and now - O fools, that after som..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/omar-khayy-m-1787_fools_would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way_627513.png"
---

#  Would you be happy! hearken, then, the way: Heed not…

![“Would you be happy! hearken, then, the way: Heed not to-morrow, heed not yesterday; The magic words of life are here and now - O fools, that after some to-morrow stray!” quote by Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/omar-khayy-m-1787_fools_would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way_627513.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/omar-khayy-m-1787_fools_would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way_627513.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/omar-khayy-m-1787_fools_would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way_627513.png)

> ““Would you be happy! hearken, then, the way: Heed not to-morrow, heed not yesterday; The magic words of life are here and now - O fools, that after some to-morrow stray!””

[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.

He urges living in the present, ignoring past and future, as life’s magic lies in now.

**In simple terms:** Live now, ignore past and future.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the present moment.

Themes

mindfulness impermanence joy

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- daily meditation
- creative work
- spontaneous travel
- celebrations

Key Concepts

philosophy poetry

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance present joy with future goals?
- What practices help you stay present?

A Different Perspective

Future planning is also necessary for stability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [Happy Hearken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-hearken-5064029/) [Heed Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heed-yesterday-5064030/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-fools-1327000/) [Magic words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-words/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [How short life is for fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/how-short-life-is-for-fools/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [I adore Life. What do all the fools matter and all the stupidity. They do matter but somehow for me they cannot touch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-adore-life-what-do-all-the-fools-matter-and-all-the-stupidity-they/)

[Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/)

> [Life with Fools consists in Drinking; with the wise Man, living's Thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/life-with-fools-consists-in-drinking-with-the-wise-man-living-s/)

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

> [“terms. The net effect is that I have created $30,000 in my asset column for which I am paid interest, just like a bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/terms-the-net-effect-is-that-i-have-created-30-000-in-my-asset-column/)

[Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/)

> [We must take our sentences seriously, which means we must understand them philosophically, and the odd thing is that the few who do, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/we-must-take-our-sentences-seriously-which-means-we-must-understand/)

[William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/)

> [“I saw pearls in her mouth and the velvet cushion of her tongue and I heard the magic words come out of her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-millard/i-saw-pearls-in-her-mouth-and-the-velvet-cushion-of-her-tongue-and-i/)

[Glenda Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-millard/)

> [“Magic is all about words and believing. If you believe then anything is possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-loiske/magic-is-all-about-words-and-believing-if-you-believe-then-anything/)

[Jennifer Loiske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-loiske/)

> [“I wish there were some kind of magic words that could bridge the gap between the person I am and the one I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-murphy/i-wish-there-were-some-kind-of-magic-words-that-could-bridge-the-gap/)

[Julie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-murphy/)

> [I love you,” Bill said helplessly, as if he wished those magic words would heal me. But he knew they wouldn’t. “That’s what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-love-you-bill-said-helplessly-as-if-he-wished-those-magic-words/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

> [ I've come to understand that arguing with \[my wife\] about it has never solved anything. So instead of denying it, I've learned to take… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-ve-come-to-understand-that-arguing-with-my-wife-about-it-has-never/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“I earn the magic of words by writing. I learn the myth of worlds by imagining.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/i-earn-the-magic-of-words-by-writing-i-learn-the-myth-of-worlds-by/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [If I do, I say so. That's the only way out of that. If there are three words that need to be used more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/if-i-do-i-say-so-that-s-the-only-way-out-of-that-if-there-are-three/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [If you want to meet someone who can fix any situation you don't like, who can bring you happiness in spite of what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/if-you-want-to-meet-someone-who-can-fix-any-situation-you-don-t-like/)

[Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/)

> [Network marketing is the only industry that allows common people to earn millions with a minimal investment and zero overhead, coupled with total time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yarnell/network-marketing-is-the-only-industry-that-allows-common-people-to/)

[Mark Yarnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-yarnell/)

> [No one seems to have learned, or can remember, the magic words that calm people when they are frightened or threatened: "I'm sorry; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/no-one-seems-to-have-learned-or-can-remember-the-magic-words-that/)

[Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/)

## 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 Fools quotes

> [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/)

[William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/)

> [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/)

[Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/)

> [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/)

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

> [The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That's one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/the-majority-is-never-right-never-i-tell-you-that-s-one-of-these-lies/)

[Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/)

> [“What would have been the fate of sages if there were no fools?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/what-would-have-been-the-fate-of-sages-if-there-were-no-fools/)

[Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/)

> [“Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverbs-16-22-bible-kjv/understanding-is-a-wellspring-of-life-unto-him-that-hath-it-but-the/)

[Proverbs 16:22 Bible KJV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverbs-16-22-bible-kjv/)

> [“stultorum infnitus est numerus (the number of fools is infinite)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ecclesiastes/stultorum-infnitus-est-numerus-the-number-of-fools-is-infinite/)

[Ecclesiastes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ecclesiastes/)

> [Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/fools-learn-from-experience-i-prefer-to-learn-from-the-experience-of/)

[Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/)

> [The wise are wise only because they love. The fool are fools only because they think they can understand love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-wise-are-wise-only-because-they-love-the-fool-are-fools-only/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“that's what i mean about cats. they're always trying to make fools of us humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/that-s-what-i-mean-about-cats-they-re-always-trying-to-make-fools-of/)

[Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/)

> [“I wish one half the world were not fools, and the other half idiots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-fern/i-wish-one-half-the-world-were-not-fools-and-the-other-half-idiots/)

[Fanny Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-fern/)

> [“What name do you use then, for two people who help each other?” “Why are they helping each other?” “Simply to be kind, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-manning/what-name-do-you-use-then-for-two-people-who-help-each-other-why-are/)

[Michael G. Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-manning/)

> [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [Today is April Fools Day. Believe nothing, and trust no one...So it's like any other day. Right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-is-april-fools-day-believe-nothing-and-trust-no-one-so-it-s/)

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

[Browse all 1,204 Fools quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Would you be happy! hearken, then, the way: Heed not to-morrow, heed not yesterday; The magic words of life are here and now - O fools, that after some to-morrow stray!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Omar Khayyám"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way-heed-not-to-morrow-heed-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fools"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way-heed-not-to-morrow-heed-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/omar-khayy-m-1787_fools_would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way_627513.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/omar-khayy-m-1787_fools_would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way_627513.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/omar-khayy-m-1787_fools_would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way_627513.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Would you be happy! hearken, then, the way: Heed not to-morrow, heed not yesterday; The magic words of life…” — Omar Khayyám",
                "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 Khayyám",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Would you be happy! hearken, then,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way-heed-not-to-morrow-heed-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/would-you-be-happy-hearken-then-the-way-heed-not-to-morrow-heed-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
