The Prophet is a collection of 26 poetic essays by Kahlil Gibran, exploring the deeper facets of life, love, sorrow, and work. The book follows the prophet Almustafa as he delivers sermons to the people of Orphalese, providing timeless wisdom on various aspects of human experience.
On Love
Love is a powerful force that elevates and ennobles human life.
Love is a binding energy that brings people together and offers the promise of deeper understanding and fulfilment.
Embrace it fully, do not seek to possess but let it flow freely to enrich your soul and the lives of those around you.
On Houses
Houses symbolize spaces of security and belonging.
But a house ought not to confine or imprison an individual’s growth.
Create spaces that radiate warmth, encourage creativity, and bring joy, allowing those who dwell within to feel truly at home and connected to their authentic selves.
On Time
Time is an eternal river, the collective past, present, and future.
Engage fully within the present moment so as not to be consumed by past regrets or anxieties about the future.
Embrace each moment in its entirety to carve a meaningful existence now, in tune with the universe.
On Death
Death is not an end, but rather a beginning for the soul’s journey toward the infinite.
Embrace its inevitability and recognize it as a moment of transition, liberating the spirit to merge with the eternally divine.
Strive for a life lived with courage and grace, so when death comes, it is met with peace and acceptance.
On Work
Work is a purposeful expression of one’s creativity and an indispensable tool for self-realization.
Dedicate yourself to your work with love and present the best version of yourself.
Let your labor be a conduit for inner growth and fostering meaningful connections with the world around you.
On Marriage
Marriage is a union of two souls, where individuals embrace a shared journey while maintaining their unique identities.
Inculcate respect, trust, and love for each other, and provide spaces for individual growth and self-realization within the partnership, thus nurturing a strong, lasting bond.
On Joy and Sorrow
Joy and sorrow are inseparable, like two sides of the same coin.
Embrace the duality of this human existence, and recognize sorrow as a vessel for greater appreciation of happiness.
Learn from pain, as it ultimately expands your capacity for love, empathy, and compassion.
On Friendship
Friendship is a ship that embarks on an expansive journey of understanding and companionship, providing solace and comfort in life’s storms.
In true friendship, hearts find mutual nourishment with laughter, joy, and timeless moments.
Eternal bonds emerge, enriching and deepening the human experience.
On Children
Parents are the caretakers of the future, providing love and guidance to their children.
Remember, children are individual souls with their destinies, not mere extensions of their parents’ lives.
Cultivate in them independence and a strong sense of identity, allowing them to navigate the world with courage and resilience.
On Giving
Generosity nurtures the well-being of both giver and receiver.
Give willingly and selflessly, without seeking validation or reward.
When giving, transcendence is achieved, as you become a channel for an underlying force of life which sustains and elevates the interconnectedness of the human community.
