The Wisdom of Gibran - Edited by Joseph Sheban

Joseph Sheban brings a collection of Kahlil Gibran's words from 'Secrets of the Heart', 'Spirits Rebellious' and 'Broken Wings'. Some of the thoughts that stayed with me.

'A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle'.

'He who doe snot seek advice is a fool. His folly blinds him to Truth and make him evil, stubborn and a danger to fellow man.'

'Bravery is a volcano, the seed of wavering doe snot grow on its crater.'

'I abstain from those who consider insolence, bravery and tenderness, cowardice. And I abstain from those who consider chatter wisdom and silence ignorance.'

'The things which the child loves remain int e domain of the heart until old age. The most beautiful thing is that our souls remain hovering over the places where we once enjoyed ourselves.'

'Conceal your troubles, then, should the seas roar and the skies fall you will be safe.'

'Contradiction is a lower degree of intelligence.'

'When we turn to one another for counsel we reduce the number of enemies.'

'Man is like the foam of the sea that floats upon the surface of the water. When the wind blows, it vanishes, as if it had never been. Thus our lives are blown away by death.'

'Despair weakens our sight and closes our ears. We can see nothing but the spectre of doom and can hear only the beating of our agitated hearts.'

'One hour devoted to mourning and lamenting the stolen equality of the weak is nobler than a century filled with greed ad usurpation.'

'Friendship with the ignorant is as foolish as arguing with a drunkard.' 

'Braving obstacles and hardships is nobler than retreat to tranquility. The butterfly that hovers around the lamp until it dies is more admirable than the mole that lives in a dark tunnel.'

 'I use hate as a weapon to defend myself. Had I been strong, I would never have needed that kind of a weapon.'

'Hell is not in torture; hell is in an empty heart.'

'The learned man who has not judgment is like an unarmed soldier proceeding into battle.'

'The gifts that derive from justice are greater than those that spring from charity.'

'He who understands you is greater kin than your own brother. For even your own kindred may neither understand you nor know your true worth.'  

'The true worth is a nation lies not in its gold or silver but in the learning, wisdom and in the uprightness of its soul.'

'In the will of man there is power of longing which turns the mist in ourselves into the sun.'

'Madness is the first step to unselfishness.'

'Do not be merciful, but be just, for mercy is bestowed upon the guilty criminal, while justice is all that an innocent man requires.'

'To be modest in speaking the truth is hypocrisy.'

'Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge.'

'Greatness is not an exalted position.
Greatness is for he who refuses position.'

'Prayer is the song of the heart.'

'Riches are not in money alone. How many wanderers are the richest of men.'

'Know your own true worth and you shall not perish.'

'Sex is always beautiful, and it is always shy.'

'In every winter's heart there is a quivering spring, and behind the veil of  every night there is a smiling dawn.'

'A word of compassion to the weak criminal or prostitute is nobler than the long prayer which we repeat emptily every day in the temple.

'Whoever would be a teacher of men let him begin by teaching himself before teaching others; and let him teach by example before teaching by word.'

'If your knowledge teaches you not the value of things and frees you not from the bondage to matter, you shall never come near the throne of truth.'