Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Kahlil Gibran (Lebanese-born American Philosopher)

Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931,) was a Lebanese-American poet, artist, and writer. His most notable work The Prophet has inspired song lyrics and political speeches, and have been recited at weddings and funerals all around the world.

Gibran’s writings in both Arabic and English are deeply romantic, displaying his religious and mystical nature. Political leaders considered his thoughts poisonous to youth. One of his books, Al-Arwah al-Mutamarrida (1908; Rebellious Spirits,) was burnt in the Beirut’s souks shortly after it was published.

Gibran was also a painter schooled in the symbolist tradition in Paris in 1908. He mixed with the intellectual elite of his time, including figures such as W. B. Yeats, Carl Jung, and Auguste Rodin. He painted over 700 pictures, watercolors, and drawings.

By the 1930s, Gibran had become a prominent and charismatic figure within the Lebanese community and New York literary circles. Much of his success is attributable to Mary Haskell, a progressive Boston schoolteacher who became his sponsor, confidante, and editor. Their affiliation developed into a love affair; though Gibran proposed to her twice, they never married.

Gibran is best known for The Prophet (1923.) Translated into over 50 languages, it has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. The book’s 26 prose poems are presented as sermons by a fictional wise man called Al Mustapha. On the verge of setting sail for his homeland after 12 years in exile, the people of the island that was his home ask him to share his wisdom on the big questions of life: love, marriage, family, children, work, and death.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Kahlil Gibran

Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas. For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction. Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing; And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Reason, Instincts, Love

Knowledge cultivates your seeds and does not sow in you seeds.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Knowledge

Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream.
—Kahlil Gibran

The appearance of things change according to the emotions, and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Emotions

To belittle is to be little.
—Kahlil Gibran

Verily the kindness that gazes upon itself in a mirror turns to stone, and a good deed that calls itself by tender names becomes the parent to a curse.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Goodness, Deeds, Good Deeds

Art is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Art

We were a silent, hidden thought in the folds of oblivion, and we have become a voice that causes the heavens to tremble.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Power

And think not you can Direct the course of love, For love, If it finds you worthy, Directs your course
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Romance

What do the nationalists say about killers punishing murderers and thieves sentencing looters?
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Patriotism

Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Action

Much of your pain is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Adversity, Difficulties, The Mind

Nor shall derision prove powerful against those who listen to humanity or those who follow in the footsteps of divinity, for they shall live forever. Forever.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Faith

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Light, One liners, Beauty

Wisdom is not in words; Wisdom is meaning within words.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Words, Wisdom, One liners

Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Progress

Wisdom stands at the turn in the road and calls upon us publicly, but we consider it false and despise its adherents.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Wisdom

If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.
—Kahlil Gibran

To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Mind, Achievement, Heart, Understanding, Achieve, Accomplishment

Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Trust

Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country?
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Service

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Crying, Perspective, Joy, Sympathy

An exaggeration is a truth that has lost its temper.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Truth, Exaggeration

Coming generations will learn equality from poverty, and love from woes.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Equality, Legacy

If the other person injures you, you may forget the injury; but if you injure him, you will always remember.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Forgiveness

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Love

Life without liberty is like a body without spirit.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Spirit, One liners, Liberty

Love is the only flower that grows and blossoms without the aid of seasons.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Love

I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Desire, Humility, Modesty

Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh, and the greatness which does not bow before children.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Wisdom

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