The Prophet (Macmillan Collector's Library) by Kahlil Gibran (2016-07-14)

by Kahlil Gibran

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty. There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but

only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

For the master spirit of the earth shall not sleep peacefully upon the wind till the needs of the least of you are satisfied.

Your friend is your needs answered.

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts; And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime. And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered. For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

You are good when you strive to give of yourself. Yet you are not evil when you seek gain for yourself.

Who can separate his faith from his actions, or his belief from his occupations?

Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Whenever you enter into it take with you your all.