The world often promises us grand futures, telling us to chase after dreams of distant rewards, lofty goals, and eventual happiness. We’re told that life’s pleasures and contentment lie somewhere in the future, waiting for us. Sometimes religious preachers ask us to sacrifice our present life for the next life they promise is full of joy and pleasures. But the renowned Persian poet and philosopher Omar Khayyam offers a different perspective in one of his Rubaiyat quatrains, reminding us that the present moment may hold more value than all the promises of tomorrow.