I would not have thee believe in what I say nor trust in what I do — for my words are naught but thy own thoughts in sound and my deeds thy own hopes in action.
KhalilRead
I am the infinite sea, and all worlds are but grains of sand upon my shore.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the vastness of existence and the insignificance of individual worlds within it.
Khalil Gibran's quote reflects the idea of a boundless reality, suggesting that life and individual experiences are minute compared to the totality of existence. It invites contemplation on our place in the universe, illustrating how personal struggles and achievements may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, akin to grains of sand on an infinite shore. This perspective encourages humility and reverence for the larger forces at play in life.
Themes
InfinityExistencePerspectiveHumilityNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the universe's vastness, I shared this quote to highlight our smallness compared to everything else.
More from Khalil
All quotes →Some find Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran’s poetry preachy and moralizing, but I find it plenty enlightening—it’s hard to object to the melodic, cosmic of mysticism of a line like ‘That which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.’
KhalilRead
They say if one understands himself, he understands all people. But I say to you, when one loves people, he learns something about himself.
KhalilRead
The seasons shall tire and the years grow old, ere they exhaust these words: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
KhalilRead
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
KhalilRead
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