Quotes from The Arabian Nights
13 notable lines from Anonymous · c. 800
Open, Sesame!
Quotations follow the Richard Francis Burton, ed. Jack Zipes translation (Signet Classics, 1991) — our recommended edition.
And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
The nightly cliff-hanger formula · trans. Burton New lamps for old!
The African magician's cry to trick the princess, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp · trans. Andrew Lang It hath reached me, O auspicious King,
Shahrazad's recurring formula opening each tale · trans. Burton Open, O Simsim!
The captain of the thieves opening the cave, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves · trans. Burton There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!
The fisherman, on hauling up the sealed brass jar, The Fisherman and the Jinni · trans. Burton So they ceased not to live the most pleasurable life and the most delectable, till there came to them the Destroyer of all delights and the Sunderer of all societies, the Depopulator of palaces and the Garnerer for graves.
The recurring closing formula of the tales · trans. Burton Shut, Sesame!
The magic words to close the robbers' cave, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves · trans. Andrew Lang Allah upon thee, O my sister, recite to us some new story, delightsome and delectable, wherewith to while away the waking hours of our latter night.
Dunyazad to her sister Shahrazad, Frame story · trans. Burton He also sware himself by a binding oath that whatever wife he married he would abate her maidenhead at night and slay her next morning to make sure of his honour; "For," said he, "there never was nor is there one chaste woman upon face of earth."
King Shahryar's vow, Frame story · trans. Burton If you want to know the end, look at the beginning.
The Arabian Nights Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure.
The Arabian Nights The world is a carcass and those who seek it are dogs.
The Arabian Nights