Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese-American poet, artist, and philosopher who is best known for his literary works, especially “The Prophet”. Gibran’s work was renowned for its spiritual and inspirational themes, which continue to inspire people around the world today.
Introduction to Khalil Gibran
Khalil Gibran was born in Lebanon in 1883 and migrated to the United States at the age of 12. He began his literary career as a young artist, and by the early 20th century, he had established himself as one of America’s leading poets and artists.
Throughout his life, Gibran wrote extensively on the topics of love, spirituality, and the human condition. His work is characterized by a deep appreciation for nature, a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of the world, and a profound respect for the human experience.
100 Top Quotes by Khalil Gibran in English
- “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
- “Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.”
- “I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.”
- “We are all like the bright moon, we still have our darker side.”
- “Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”
- “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”
- “Generosity is not in giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is in giving me that which you need more than I do.”
- “When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep.”
- “I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit.”
- “Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.”
- “Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream.”
- “And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”
- “I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.”
- “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.”
- “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
- “I have found both freedom and safety in my madness; the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.”
- “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”
- “Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.”
- “If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don’t, they never were.”
- “Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”
- “Travel and tell no one, live a true love story, and leave behind a trail of memories.”
- “We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.”
- “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”
- “The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.”
- “I have learned that what you have in your heart is worth more than what you have in your hand.”
- “Love is trembling happiness.”
- “And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.”
- “Your friend is your needs answered.”
- “We are all prisoners but some of us are in cells with windows and some without.”
- “Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”
- “If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work.”
- “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”
- “The timeless beauty of nature will always remain a source of inspiration to the human spirit.”
- “Love and doubt have never been on speaking terms.”
- “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.”
- “The greatest mistake one can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”
- “Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.”
- “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
- “Art is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed.”
- “I am a mariner of the heart and soul.”
- “The true wealth of a nation lies not in its gold or silver but in its learning, wisdom and in the uprightness of its sons.”
- “Life is a journey, and if you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever.”
- “And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”
- “To be able to look back upon one’s life in satisfaction is to live twice.”
- “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.”
- “Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation.”
- “The greatest misfortune that can come to a person is to lose their hunger for God.”
- “The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.”
- “Your friend is your needs answered.”
- “Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”
- “We are all like the bright moon, we still have our darker side.”
- “The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.”
- “When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep.”
- “A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.”
- “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
- “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
- “The purpose of language is to communicate the contents of the mind, and as long as words are chosen carefully, they can be the perfect medium for conveying the most profound thoughts.”
- “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”
- “The love that seeks for anything but the good of the loved one is not true love.”
- “It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding.”
- “Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.”
- “When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.”
- “The timeless beauty of nature will always remain a source of inspiration to the human spirit”.
- “I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.”
- “We are all prisoners but some of us are in cells with windows and some without.”
- “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”
- “To be able to forget means sanity.”
- “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”
- “Generosity is not in giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is in giving me that which you need more than I do.”
- “Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.”
- “Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.”
- “You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.”
- “The most pitiful among men is he who turns his dreams into silver and gold.”
- “What difference is there between us, save a restless dream that follows my soul but fears to come near you?”
- “Love and doubt have never been on speaking terms.”
- “We are all like the bright moon, we still have our darker side.”
- “We are all pencils in the hand of God.”
- “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
- “If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.”
- “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.”
- “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans; in one aspect of you are found all the aspects of existence.”
- “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
- “When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep.”
- “The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.”
- “Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows.”
- “To be able to look back upon one’s life in satisfaction is to live twice.”
- “Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”
- “I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit.”
- “Trust in dreams, for in them is the hidden gate to eternity.”
- “I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.”
- “When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.”
- “A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand.”
- “Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.”
- “Love is trembling happiness.”
- “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”
- “A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.”
- “Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.”
- “Your work is your love made visible.”
- “In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond.”
- “Let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.”
FAQs:
Q: Who was Khalil Gibran?
A: Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese-American writer, poet, and visual artist.
Q: What is Khalil Gibran known for?
A: Khalil Gibran is known for his famous book “The Prophet,” which has been translated into over 50 languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide. He is also known for his works of art and poetry.
Q: What are some famous quotes by Khalil Gibran?
A: Some famous quotes by Khalil Gibran include “Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens,” and “We are all prisoners but some of us are in cells with windows and some without.”
Q: What is “The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran about?
A: “The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran is a book of 26 poetic essays that offers insights on love, marriage, children, work, joy, sorrow, and more. It is considered to be a masterpiece of spiritual literature.
Q: When was Khalil Gibran born?
A: Khalil Gibran was born on January 6, 1883, in Bsharri, a town in the north of modern-day Lebanon.
Q: What languages did Khalil Gibran speak?
A: Khalil Gibran spoke Arabic, English, and French fluently.
Q: What is the Khalil Gibran International Academy?
A: The Khalil Gibran International Academy is a public school in Brooklyn, New York, named after Khalil Gibran. The school focuses on Arabic language and culture, as well as other world languages and cultures.
Q: How did Khalil Gibran die?
A: Khalil Gibran died on April 10, 1931, in New York City, due to cirrhosis of the liver and tuberculosis.
Q: What awards did Khalil Gibran receive?
A: Khalil Gibran received several awards during his lifetime, including the Order of Cedars from the Lebanese government and the Gold Medal of the Société des Gens de Lettres in France.
Q: What is the Khalil Gibran Memorial in Washington, D.C.?
A: The Khalil Gibran Memorial is a bronze statue located in Washington, D.C., that honors Khalil Gibran’s legacy as a writer and artist. The statue was donated by the government of Lebanon and dedicated in 1990.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Khalil Gibran was a visionary poet and philosopher whose words continue to inspire and guide people around the world. His quotes offer timeless wisdom and insight into the human experience, emphasizing the importance of love, connection, self-awareness, and personal growth.
We hope that you have found this article informative and engaging, and that it has inspired you to explore the rich and profound legacy of Khalil Gibran.
