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

Time has been transformed, and we have changed; it has advanced and set us in motion; it has unveiled its face, inspiring us with bewilderment and exhilaration.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Time

Life is indeed darkness save when there is urge, and all urge is blind save when there is knowledge, and all knowledge is vain save when there is work, and all work is empty save when there is love.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Futility

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

The chemist who can extract from his heart’s elements, compassion, respect, longing, patience, regret, surprise, and forgiveness and compound them into one can create that atom which is called love.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Remorse, Compassion, Disappointment, Love, Regret

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

Who can separate his faith from his actions, or his belief from his occupations?
—Kahlil Gibran

Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Faith, Thinking

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

And think not you can guide the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, shall guide your course.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Love

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

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

Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Truth

Most people who ask for advice from others have already resolved to act as it pleases them.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Advice

What difference is there between us, save a restless dream that follows my soul but fears to come near you?
—Kahlil Gibran

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

Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Doubt, Belief, Pain, Uncertainty, Faith

Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Strength, Kindness

Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Eternity, Beauty, One liners

The person you consider ignorant and insignificant is the one who came from God, that he might learn bliss from grief and knowledge from gloom.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: People

You may forget the one with whom you have laughed, but never the one with whom you have wept.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Laughter

Say not, ‘I have found THE truth,’ but rather, ‘I have found A truth.’
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Truth

Perhaps time’s definition of coal is the diamond.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: One liners

When you give of your possessions, you give but little; it is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Self-Discovery, Charity, Give, Kindness, Service, Helping, Giving, Helpfulness

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain, we all have sorrow, but if we are wise we know there is always tomorrow.
—Kahlil Gibran

March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life’s path.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Adversity

I have learned silence from the talkative; tolerance from the intolerant and kindness from the unkind. I should not be ungrateful to those teachers.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Silence, Kindness, Learning

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

And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Nature, Wilderness

Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Music, Peace

Your friend is your needs answered.
—Kahlil Gibran
Topics: Friends and Friendship

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