Nguyen Du

Nguyen Du (1765-1820) was a Vietnamese poet who is known for interpreting "Kim Van Kieu" (The Song of Kiew), one of the best known poem of the country that is considered national poem.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Anyone can take a false step

And fall forever,
Everyone in different.
Where are they now, all those lost souls?
- Calling the Lost Souls

• He climbed his horse, she let go of his gown -

Autumn was tingling maple woods with gloom.
And off he rode as clouds of dust swirled up,
To vanish past all those green mulberry groves.
She walked back home to face the night alone,
And by himself he fared the long, long way.
Who split the lover's moon? Half stayed and slept
By her lone pillow, half lit his far road.
- Kim Can Kieu (Tale of Kieu)

• Happiness or misfortune are prescribed by Law of Heaven,

But their source comes from ourselves.
- The Tale of Kieu

• How immense the high sky is!

- The Tale of Kieu

• … In war, human lives are like dust

as bullets and arrows fly with death.
The wandering ghosts, the lost souls,
Make the scene still more mournful.
There were children, just tiny things,
Born in a bad time, separated from their parents.
No one was there to hold them close.
Heart-rending were their infant cries.
- Calling the Wandering Souls

Mme de Stael