Kahlil Gibran lahir di Bsherri, Lebanon, 6 Januari 1883. Dalam usia remaja bersama ibunya pindah ke Boston, Amerika Serikat. Setelah kembali ke Lebanon untuk mempelajari sastra Arab, mulai tahun 1905 karya-karyanya terbit dan menarik perhatian, terutama Sang Nabi. Ia memperluas pandangan sastra dan belajar melukis di Paris, kemudian menetap di New York, mendirikan studio "Pertapaan". Buku-bukunya yang terkenal selain Sang Nabi, juga Taman Sang Nabi, Pasir dan Buih, Sayap-Sayap Patah, Suara Sang Guru, Si Gila, Sang Pralambang, Sang Musyafir, dll. Ia meninggal 10 April 1931 karena sakit lever dan radang paru-paru.

Monday, August 9, 2010

gibran khalil quotes - THE HOUSE OF FORTUNE

THE HOUSE OF FORTUNE

My wearied heart bade me farewell and left for the House of Fortune. As he reached that holy city which the soul had blessed and worshipped, he commenced wondering, for he could not find what he had always imagined would be there. The city was empty of power, money, and authority.

And my heart spoke to the daughter of Love saying, “Oh Love, where can I find Contentment? I heard that she had come here to join you.”

And the daughter of Love responded, “Contentment has already gone to preach her gospel in the city, where greed and corruption are paramount; we are not in need of her.”

Fortune craves not Contentment, for it is an earthly hope, and its desires are embraced by union with objects, while Contentment is naught but heartfelt.

The eternal soul is never contented; it ever seeks exaltation. Then my heart looked upon Life of Beauty and said: “Thou art all knowledge; enlighten me as to the mystery of Woman.” And he answered, “Oh human heart, woman is your own reflection, and whatever you are, she is; wherever you live, she lives; she is like religion if not interpreted by the ignorant, and like a moon, if not veiled with clouds, and like a breeze, if not poisoned with impurities.”

And my heart walked toward Knowledge, the daughter of Love and Beauty, and said, “Bestow upon me wisdom, that I might share it with the people.” And she responded, “Say not wisdom, but rather fortune, for real fortune comes not from outside, but begins in the Holy of Holies of life. Share of thyself with the people.”


Book : A TEAR AND A SMILE
by Kahlil Gibran

0 comments:

Post a Comment