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My friend, be not like him who sits by his fireside and watches the fire go out, then blows vainly upon the dead ashes. Do not give up hope or yield to despair because of that which is past, for to bewail the irretrievable is the worst of human frailties.
Khalil Gibran
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Don't dwell on the past; instead, maintain hope for the future.

In this quote, Khalil Gibran urges readers not to become stagnant or hopeless by fixating on the past and the things that cannot be changed. He highlights the importance of moving forward and holding onto hope, suggesting that lamenting over lost opportunities or situations is a weakness that hinders personal growth and happiness.

Themes

HopePastDespairCourageMoving Forward

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech about overcoming challenges and embracing the future.

More from Khalil Gibran

I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.
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Be patient, for it is from doubt that knowledge is born.
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Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
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God made Truth with many doors to welcome every believer who knocks on them.
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Happiness is a vine that takes root and grows within the heart, never outside it.
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Solitude has soft, silky hands, but with strong fingers it grasps the heart and makes it ache with sorrow.
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