It is as though a watchman of yours has sealed my ears against reproach, so that no word of blame can enter them.
It is as though the night’s sleeplessness were enamoured of my eyes; with every separation between us there is, for them, a fresh reunion. (1)

Among his other lines he says:
“She loosed three ringlets of her hair one night, and so revealed to me four nights in the space of one.
She turned her face toward the sky’s moon and showed me two moons together, both at once.” (2)

He also says:
“Not one of the pre-Islamic poets as a whole attained my verse, nor has Babylon ever heard of sorcery like mine.
If censure reaches you from someone deficient, that very censure is proof that I am complete.” (3)

“Who will grant me insight into people of an age who claim that they can reckon an Indian among them to be Bāqil?” (4)

He also said:
“One of the world’s vexations for a free man is to behold an enemy whom he must nonetheless befriend.” (5)

And he said:
“When souls are lofty, bodies grow weary in achieving their desires.” (6)

He likewise said:
“Whoever keeps company with the world for long will see it turn before his eyes until its truth appears falsehood.” (7)

And he said:
“Take what you behold and leave aside what you have only heard; in the rising of the sun is that which spares you the need for Saturn.” (8)

He also composed lines in praise of certain kings from whom he sought generous gifts: