The Prophet (Khalil Gibran, 1923)

[madali]

The Prophet (Khalil Gibran, 1923)

Khalil Gibran's most famous book is "The Prophet", a book of poetic musings, as told by a fictional Prophet, on various subjects, such as Love, Marriage, Death, and so forth.

It is in a way inspirational material, but it is different than the inspiration quotations you find in shitty little books sold in bookstores or feel-good books that seem to be made for either talentless housewives or insignificant employees at a large company to print out something to tape to the wall in-front of their face.

"The Prophet" is poetic, smart, and sometimes, does feel inspirational.

On Love:

"Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully."

On Marriage:

"Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love."

On Children:

"You may give them your love but not your thoughts."

On Laws:

"What of the cripple who hates dancers?"

On Self-Knowledge:

"Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth.""

On Religion:

"And if you would know God be not therefore a solver of riddles.
Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children.
And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain.
You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees."

And so forth!

5/5

[fizz]

Quite a brilliant book. I read it over a decade ago, and finished it twice, back to back.

[X.]

I am reading it now. Thanks, Mad.