“Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive.”
— Hafez · 1315 – 1390Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The wording is widely attributed to Hafez, but the provided evidence does not show a primary Persian source or a dated first appearance.
- What remains uncertain
- Attribution is disputed here: the phrase appears mainly in modern quote collections and lacks verification from a critical edition or original text.
Understanding the quote
The line urges you to keep close to whatever restores your sense of being alive — people, places, practices, or art that spark gratitude. Framed like a Persian lyric, it’s a practical call to favor vitality and presence over numbness.
The story behind it
Many English renderings of Hafez circulate through modern anthologies and quote sites; they’re often smoothed or adapted rather than traced to a Persian source.
Going further
- The era
- In the 14th century, when Shiraz was a major hub of Persian poetry and Sufi culture.
- The thinking
- Sufi-inflected lyric: follow longing and love as ways to know yourself and the sacred; in practice, prioritize what awakens your heart.
- Key word
- Aliveness: choosing what nourishes energy, joy, and gratitude.
Three challenges to live it
In the app, you pick the one that fits your day, and in the evening you say how it went.
Sit for 10 minutes next to an object, photo, or view that makes you feel alive; breathe and notice sensations without judgment.
Being physically close to a tangible reminder of what sparks joy anchors gratitude and presence, echoing Hafez's line.
Call or send a sincere message to someone who makes you feel alive; mention one specific thing you appreciate about them.
Expressing gratitude to the people who spark your aliveness strengthens bonds and embodies Hafez's call to stay close to life-giving presence.
Spend 20 minutes creating a small collage, sketch, or short poem that brings together images and words that make you feel alive; proceed without editing.
Turning what energizes you into art makes the sources of vitality tangible and helps keep you close to them, as Hafez advises.
How do you stay near what makes you glad to be alive?
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