I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.
Khalil GibranRead
You see but your shadow when you turn your back to the sun.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that when we ignore or turn away from what enlightens us, we only see the darker aspects of ourselves.
Khalil Gibran's quote emphasizes the idea that by turning our back on the light—symbolizing knowledge, truth, or enlightenment—we become aware only of our shadows, which represent fear, doubt, and negativity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of confronting and embracing our truths instead of succumbing to darkness or ignorance that occurs when we avoid enlightenment.
Themes
ShadowSunEnlightenmentTruthDarkness
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, this quote could illustrate the importance of facing one’s fears.
More from Khalil Gibran
All quotes →Be patient, for it is from doubt that knowledge is born.
Khalil GibranRead
Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
Khalil GibranRead
God made Truth with many doors to welcome every believer who knocks on them.
Khalil GibranRead
Happiness is a vine that takes root and grows within the heart, never outside it.
Khalil GibranRead
Solitude has soft, silky hands, but with strong fingers it grasps the heart and makes it ache with sorrow.
Khalil GibranRead
Similar quotes
Where you find the attraction for lust and wealth considerably diminished, to whatever creed he may belong, know that his inner spirit is awakening.
Swami VivekanandaRead
I can't understand nothingness. I can't understand it and I can't imagine it.
Haruki MurakamiRead
The human body is vapor materialized by sunshine mixed with the life of the stars.
ParacelsusRead
A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond justice rails upon yon simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief?
William ShakespeareRead
Iran has little capacity to deploy force. Its strategic doctrines are defensive, designed to deter invasion long enough for diplomacy to set it.
Noam ChomskyRead
There could conceivably be circumstances in which an experiment on an animal stands to reduce suffering so much that it would be permissible to carry it out even if it involved harm to the animal... [even if] the animal were a human being.
Peter SingerRead