Khalil Gibran on Talking

Re-reading ‘’The Prophet’’, a brilliant book by the great Khalil Gibran, I felt like sharing a chapter of it with you.

In this exceptionally well consised book Khalil Gibran answers to many questions one may stumble upon. From Love to Death, with Work, Pain, or Friendship in between, it’s a true masterpiece that may answer your questions and guide you, or simply material to make you think and re-think your thoughts.

It’s a spiritual book like no other, some kind of good religion you should follow, written with such acuteness and poetry, it’s everything I never managed to write down, all my ideas I never managed to organize…

That’s why I strongly suggest you to grab the first copy you’ll find and start reading, it’s really short believe me, yet immensely interesting, vastly detonating and largely mind-blowing.

To support my words and show you the beauty of these writings, followed is one of my favorite chapters, the one about ‘Talking’.

Drawing by Khalil Gibran 

 

***

And then a scholar said, "Speak of Talking."

And he answered, saying:

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 many indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

There are those among you who seek the talkative through fear of being alone.

The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape.

And there are those who talk, and without knowledge or forethought reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand.

And there are those who have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words.

In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.

When you meet your friend on the roadside or in the market place, let the spirit in you move your lips and direct your tongue.

Let the voice within your voice speak to the ear of his ear;

For his soul will keep the truth of your heart as the taste of the wine is remembered

When the color is forgotten and the vessel is no more.

***

 

Let me know what you’ve thought of this extract, if you read or are going to read the book, I’d really like to have someone else’s review.

Take care !

See ya !

 

PS: Tomorrow I’m starting my fashion studies ! So be prepared for some juicy stuff !