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.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that one's beliefs and actions are reflections of their own thoughts and hopes, not necessarily influenced by others.
Khalil Gibran suggests that individuals should not take his words or actions at face value, as they merely echo the thoughts and aspirations inherent in the listener themselves. This idea implies that true understanding and belief come from within, and that the essence of communication is about self-reflection and internal interpretation rather than external influence.
In practice
This quote can be shared in a philosophy class to spark discussion on perception and reality.
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.’
I am the infinite sea, and all worlds are but grains of sand upon my shore.
They say if one understands himself, he understands all people. But I say to you, when one loves people, he learns something about himself.
The seasons shall tire and the years grow old, ere they exhaust these words: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
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.
It was too much. The comfortable people made comfortable jokes about weather and things but I sat mostly silent saying a word or so when necessary a word or so trying to hide from them the fact that I was a fool and feeling terrible And I was numb, numb again, numb again again and again, numbness and pain swelling in me.
Not how the world is, but that it is, is the mystery.
What does all this stuff about flying saucers amount to? What can it mean? What is the truth?
Nothing exists; even if something exists, nothing can be known about it; and even if something can be known about it, knowledge about it can't be communicated to others.
April is the cruelest month, T.S. Eliot wrote, by which I think he meant (among other things) that springtime makes people crazy. We expect too much, the world burgeons with promises it can't keep, all passion is really a setup, and we're doomed to get our hearts broken yet again. I agree, and would further add: Who cares? Every spring I go out there anyway, around the bend, unconditionally. ... Come the end of the dark days, I am more than joyful. I'm nuts.
If your religion doesn't respect the rights of other religions, it is lacking something.
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