The Prophet (Almustafa)

"Of all that is sad, this is the saddest—that one soul when made conscious of life's hunger and inferior, other souls stand around it and keep it hungry and inferior."

"Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother."

"In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the endless oceans."

"You are not enclosed in your bodies, and your bodies are not enclosed in your homes, nor your homes in your city, and your city in your country."

"All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart."

"Let no one counsel you to put away your ideals."

"Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future."

"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth."

"The fountain of beauty is in the heart."

"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself."

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

"Work is love made visible."

"For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one."

"Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror."

"And your body is the harp of your soul, and it is yours to bring forth sweet music from it or confused sounds."

"The timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness."

"Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.'"

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."

"Let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you."

"And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course."

"Sorrow is your understanding."

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked."

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain."

"Much of your pain is self-chosen."

"You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy."

"For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly."

"The astronomer may speak to you of his understanding of space, but he cannot give you his understanding."

"Some of you say, 'It is the north wind who brings the rain.' And others among you say, 'It is the south wind.'"

"And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures."

"Your friend is your needs answered."