Mahatma Gandhi Quotes on Peace, Strength, and Truth

“Civilization is the encouragement of differences.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Of all the evils for which man has made himself responsible, none is so degrading, so shocking or so brutal as his abuse of the better half of humanity; the female sex.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Mahatma Gandhi has, and continues to, offer inspiration to people around the world. His commitment to truth, justice and his own profound spirituality made him one of the most pivotal characters of his time.

Today, Mahatma Gandhi quotes are still widely used, in education curriculum, religious and spiritual communities and as a way of offering hope to those in times of need.

As well as having a huge impact on the world, Gandhi led a remarkable life and achieved many things during his lifetime.

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“I can retain neither respect nor affection for government which has been moving from wrong to wrong in order to defend its immorality”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Peace between countries must rest on the solid foundation of love between individuals.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“(When asked what he thought of Western civilization): “I think it would be a good idea.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Just as a man would not cherish living in a body other than his own, so do nations not like to live under other nations, however noble and great the latter may be.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Action expresses priorities.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

The Beginning

Born in Porbandar in 1869, Gandhi’s father was the community’s high official (Diwan) and was extremely well thought of. Gandhi’s mother was wife number four for his father, who had lost his three previous wives during childbirth.

Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi from his autobiography indicate that he had an active imagination as a young child. An inquisitive mind, Gandhi was introduced to many classic Indian stories, of which Mahatma Gandhi quotes King Harishchandra and Shravana as being particularly influential on the way he viewed truth and love as values.

In spring of 1883, and down to his parents’ arrangements, Gandhi married 14-year old Kasturbia Makhanji; he was just 13-years old at the time. Quotations from Mahatma Gandhi remember the day with fondness, although he noted neither he nor his bride were aware of how truly monumental the occasion was for them.

Instead, both were more interested in the new clothes they had been given and the fact they could eat as many sweet treats as they liked.

The following year life played a cruel trick, when Gandhi and Kasturbi’s first-born son died a few days after birth. Gandhi’s father died just a couple of months after his grandson. The couple did go on to have four children over a 13-year time span – all boys too.

Mahatma Gandhi quotes the year following his arranged marriage and the subsequent death of his son as being the reason his education took a back seat.

However, this temporary lack of enthusiasm for learning did not last and eventually Gandhi went on to further education and even University.

“Where there is love, there is life”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“The future depends on what you do today.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“They cannot take away our self respect if we do not give it to them.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Nothing is so aggravating as calmness.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“True morality consists not in following the beaten track, but in finding the true path for ourselves, and fearlessly following it.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Do not crave to know the views of others, nor base your intent thereon. To think independently for yourself is a sign of fearlessness.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

A Truly Remarkable Career

Upon leaving University, Gandhi decided to travel to London where he would train as a barrister. Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi reveal his career choice was largely influenced by his family, who wanted him to have as much chance as possible of obtaining his father’s high official role.

Gandhi’s mother was nervous about him travelling to London and before he left, she made him swear a solemn vow – to renounce alcohol, promiscuity and meat- in front of her and a Jain monk.

Gandhi’s culture shock on his arrival in London was short-lived and it was not long before he was immersing himself in local life – even taking up dancing lessons in order to meet new people.

Despite his willingness to integrate, Mahatma Gandhi quotes in his autobiography that the vow he had taken “was never far from my mind”.

One thing that Gandhi was not impressed by in London was the distinct lack of “tasty” vegetarian meals. On the advice of a friend, Gandhi joined the Vegetarian Society and through this, met with a group of people who encouraged him to take part in the study of Buddhist and Hindu literature with them. Spiritual quotes by Mahatma Gandhi suggest this was his defining moment as far as religion was concerned, as he had previously shown no religious interest whatsoever.

Gandhi left London to return to India in 1891, where he was met with the devastating news that his mother had died some months earlier and his family had conspired to keep it from him. Mahatma Gandhi quotes this period of his life as being the darkest, as he had to grieve for his mother and come to terms with his family’s betrayal.

Gandhi spent an unhappy eighteen months desperately trying to get his own law firm off the ground. Quotes from people who were closest to him told how shy he was, so shy he was often worried about talking in front of others in court.

After failing to establish his own firm and a job at another firm going wrong, Gandhi accepted a job offer from an Indian firm based in South Africa – and so he moved again. South Africa was Gandhi’s training ground, as Mahatma Gandhi quotes himself “South Africa was largely responsible for the development of my ethics, religious beliefs, political views and leadership skills.”

Ghandi had also, by his own admission, been completely unaware of the discrimination many Indians and Muslims faced on a regular basis.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something,it makes me incapable of doing it. When I believe I can,I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.’
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Love is the strongest force the world possesses.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“If you want something really important to be done you must not merely satisfy the reason, you must move the heart also.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Don’t talk about it. The rose doesn’t have to propagate its perfume. It just gives it forth, and people are drawn to it. Live it, and people will come to see the source of your power.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Truth resides in every human heart, and one has to search for it there, and to be guided by truth as one sees it. But no one has a right to coerce others to act according to his own view of truth.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one’s acts.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“There are many causes I would die for. There is not a single cause I would kill for.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“God has no religion.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Achievements and Memorable Moments

Mahatma Gandhi quotes several events in his autobiography as being responsible for the shaping of his life.

The first was when he was literally thrown off a train for refusing to move from first class. Gandhi protested, insisting he would take the case of discrimination as far as he could. He was eventually allowed to travel, although he was to receive a beating from the driver when he refused to stand up for a Caucasian passenger.

Gandhi was shocked at the level of discrimination towards colored people. As well as these, Gandhi was asked several times to remove his turban in public places and he was beaten up several times, usually when he spoke up about the discrimination he had experienced.

Gandhi decided that rather than return to India – he was going to stay on in South Africa and help the Muslims stop a bill being passed that would see them lose their right to vote. Mahatma Gandhi quotes reveal that, while he was not successful in stopping the bill, he unified the Indian community in South Africa.

Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress in 1894 and was soon responsible for shaping a powerful political force. All this despite Gandhi’s claims that politics were of no real interest to him. “If I seem to take part in politics, it is only because politics encircles us today” a Mahatma Gandhi quote reveals his true feelings in an 1895 speech.

Gandhi became the epitome of non-violent protests, encouraging Indians to make their feelings clear by refusing to obey discriminatory rules and engaging in other forms of peaceful resistance.

Unfortunately, Gandhi and his supporters were repressed, usually in the most violent way possible and Gandhi experienced several sentences in prison. Quotations by Mahatma Gandhi during his incarcerations show his interest in politics increasing, as he thought to rid the world of white supremacy.

One of Gandhi’s finest moments came in 1900 when, in a bid to prove to the British that Muslim men were just as capable of physical labor as a white man was, Gandhi organized a group of ambulance drivers. These men carried and treated wounded British soldiers – and bridges began to build.

In 1906 with the British at war with the Zulu kingdom, Mahatma Gandhi quotes this time as his most passionate learning experience. He apparently learnt that directly challenging a powerful authority was futile and instead change would only be brought about by peaceful protests made by those who were pure of heart. Some of the most inspirational quotes from Gandhi come from this time, where it was obvious he was trying to accept humanity –flaws and all- without letting it put him off living as purely as possible.

Gandhi was given national hero status, when the black majority finally came into power. India saw a different man to the one who had left nearly 20 years before. Gandhi went on to become an important and dominant figure in Indian politics and his doctrine of peaceful protest is still obeyed and respected today.

Gandhi went on to lead a peaceful protest, “March to the Sea”, where he led thousands of people to the ocean in a bid to make their own salt from saltwater – a direct protest to the recent announcement that salt was to be taxed. As well as representing the Indian National Congress, Gandhi negotiated with the British regarding the Mountbatten Plan – which would eventually lead to India and Pakistan becoming two separate states.

Read more about Mahatma Gandhi and his works here.

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way it treats its animals”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“There would be nothing to frighten you if you refused to be afraid.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“I should love to satisfy all, if I possibly can; but in trying to satisfy all, I may be able to satisfy none. I have, therefore, arrived at the conclusion that the best course is to satisfy one’s own conscience and leave the world to form its own judgment, favorable or otherwise.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Gandhi Fans and Critics

Gandhi most certainly had his fair share of critics; in fact, he was seen as something of an irritation to anyone who was not involved in Gandhi’s work.

Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi reveal the depth of feeling against him, and he recognised that he often walked a fine line between friend and enemy on both sides of the camp. Gandhi bore no ill will towards his critics, despite being on the receiving end of beatings, jail sentences and other discrimination.

His peaceful nature and belief that everyone could live together harmoniously was backed by the belief that his violent opponents operated on ignorance and anger – which they did not understand.

Gandhi always said that his work, whether it was a silent protest or tending to the ill or wounded, was always made worth it by the average people he came across every day. He was always quick to point out that he did not touch people’s lives but rather they touched his – many of whom left an indelible mark.

“Even if you are in the minority of one, the truth is the truth”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Terrorism and deception are weapons not of the strong, but of the weak.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does the truth become error because nobody will see it.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Anger and intolerance are the twin enemies of correct understanding.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

The End

Tragically, for a man who had led his life being the voice of non-violence and peaceful protest, Gandhi’s life was taken in a particularly violent way – when he was assassinated in 1948.

The reason for his assassination has been attributed to the fact he tried to stop the Hindu-Muslim conflict that had risen following independence. This policy saw Gandhi lose his life for the cause in Delhi.

However, even now Mahatma Gandhi quotes, along with his belief in simple living and commitment to non-violent confrontation still offer the oppressed the gift of hope.

This seemingly average person, described as shy and introvert by his family, was and to some extent remains one of the world’s most influential people.

“In fact, it is more correct to say that Truth is God, than to say that God is Truth.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“True love is boundless like the ocean and, swelling within one, spreads itself out and, crossing all boundaries and frontiers, envelops the whole world.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“There is force in the universe, which, if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Read more about Mahatma Gandhi and his work here, or go to the main page for all the good quotes.

“A single rose can be my garden … a single friend, my world”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Life is a paradise for those who love many things with a passion.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Don’t hold to anger, hurt or pain. They steal your energy and keep you from love.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Love is always open arms. If you close your arms about love you will find that you are left holding only yourself.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Time has no meaning in itself unless we choose to give it significance”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

The Beginning

Born into a family of Italian immigrants in 1924, Leonardo, or Leo to those closest to him, Buscaglia spent much of his younger years in Italy – despite being born in Los Angeles.

A charmer from the off, his family remember him as being a confident child, who knew exactly what to say to get what he wanted. A popular child, his return to the United States as he hit his teens finally saw Buscaglia receive regular, stable education.

Buscaglia was something of a star pupil, although his charm often earned him just as much as the ability he applied to his school work.

Buscaglia signed up for the Navy on leaving school, Leo Buscaglia quotations reveal this was one of the most influential periods of his life.

On leaving the army following World War Two service, Buscaglia enrolled in the University of Southern California where he went to earn an impressive three degrees over a 13-year old time period, a BA, MA and a pHD. Buscaglia joined the faculty of the University where he studied and soon made a name for himself among students.

Leo Buscaglia quotes his non-credit course “Love 1A” as the main reason for his popularity. A course which was to earn him a nickname that would stick with him through his entire career – Doctor Love.

His genuine love and compassion for people clearly shines through all of Leo Buscaglia’s quotes, and it was this that was to make him one of the most popular motivational speakers in the world.

Leo Buscaglia quote about bitterness

“Love is life and if you miss love, you miss life”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“To love others you must first love yourself.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Relish love in your old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more intoxicating!”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Most of us remain strangers to ourselves, hiding who we are, and ask other strangers, hiding who they are, to love us.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“You can only give away what you have … If you have love, you can give it. If you don’t have it, you don’t have it to give.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

“Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don’t over-analyze your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

Career and Achievements

Leo Buscaglia quotes the death of a student as being the real reason behind his Love 1A class.

The student, who committed suicide on campus, had a profound effect on Buscaglia, who became determined to teach people how we had become a “disconnected” nation.

Leo Buscaglia quotations from the time highlight how strongly he felt about getting the message, that people loving each other doesn’t cost anything.

Buscaglia pushed people to understand that the lack of tolerance between individuals could well lead to some feeling isolated. Not everyone had a family support system or friends they knew would be there for them. His course really took off and actually became the basis of his first book, which had the simple yet wholly relevant title – LOVE.

His brilliant storytelling skills were only seconded to his dynamic public speaking skills, something which was soon picked up on by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Leo Buscaglia refers to the 1980s as being the highlight of his life. This may well have been down to the fact PBS were regularly broadcasting televised version of his talks – all of which were a runaway success.

“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

“Those who think they know it all have no way of finding out they don’t …”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

“Change is the end result of all true learning.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

In fact, even today Leo Buscaglia speeches are used by the channel, especially during times of fund raising.

In total, Buscaglia wrote eight books – all of which became national best sellers. In fact, at one point the New York Times Best Sellers list contained five books by Buscaglia. Read more about his books here on this page.

Motivational quotes by Leo Buscaglia are still used today and Leo Buscaglia quotes are often used to help people try and understand the meaning of life and what it means to them.

Buscaglia’s books are still among the most popular in that genre and despite his death nearly 15-years ago, all eight books remain the same – none have been updated or extended by other professionals. This is something of an achievement in itself.

“The most unfortunate thing that happens to a person who fears failure is that he limits himself by becoming afraid to try anything new.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

“The hardest battle you are ever going to have to fight is the battle to be just you.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

“If you don’t like the scene you’re in, if you’re unhappy, if you’re lonely, if you don’t feel that things are happening, change your scene. Paint a new backdrop.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

“Every moment spent in unhappiness is a moment of happiness lost.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

“… the opposite of love is not hate — it’s apathy. It’s not giving a damn. If somebody hates me, they must “feel” something … or they couldn’t possibly hate. Therefore, there’s some way in which I can get to them.”
~ Leo Buscaglia. ~

Controversy and Critics

As with most motivational speakers, Buscaglia received his fair share of criticism.

However, this seemed to concentrate on his writing ability, rather than the fact he was an advocate for love and life. Leo Buscaglia quotes addressed his critics directly by saying “Never idolize others. They will never live up to your expectations”.

To be fair to Buscaglia, he has always been honest, both in his books and by way of his speeches, that his only goal in life is to help people understand how much impact they have on other people. How much how they act can affect another person negatively and how easy it was to love rather than hate.

Of course, there are bound to be a select group of people who see Leo Buscaglia quotes as being unrealistic or fanciful. However, anyone who has taken the time to watch one of his speeches or read one of his books will know, Buscaglia means business.

Today motivational quotes from Leo Buscaglia are used in the very University that helped make him who he was. Leo Buscaglia quotes his editors as being some of the most important people in his life. While he was gifted in the ability of story telling, the mechanics of the language were never his strong point, which meant his raw work was heavily edited to make it publishable.

“Don’t smother each other. No one can grow in the shade.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“When we cling to pain, we end up punishing ourselves.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“I believe that you control your destiny, that you can be what you want to be. You can also stop and say, ‘No, I won’t do it, I won’t behave his way anymore. I’m lonely and I need people around me, maybe I have to change my methods of behaving,’ and then you do it.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“It is up to us to diligently discover new solutions and learn new patterns of relating, ways more conducive to growth, peace, hope and loving coexistence. Anything that is learned can be unlearned and relearned. In this process called change lies our real hope.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

The End

Leo Buscaglia died in Nevada at the age of 74-years. Today his legacy lives on, as he has become an idol to modern motivational speakers of the day.

Leo Buscaglia quotes commonly make up the motivational, inspirational and even spiritual speeches of others. His work continues to be popular, with his self-help and motivational books printed in over 20 different languages.

PBS regularly broadcast Buscaglia’s most famous speeches and Leo Buscaglia quotes.

Had he been alive today, Buscaglia would have been very impressed with his latest accolade, a guest appearance on “The Simpsons”.

“What we need to know about loving is no great mystery. We all know what constitutes loving behavior; we need but act upon it, not continually question it. Over-analysis often confuses the issue and in the end brings us no closer to insight. We sometimes become too busy classifying, separating, and examining, to remember that love is easy. It’s we who make it complicated.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Life lived for tomorrow, will always be a day away from being realised”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to choose life.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“Live now. When you are eating, eat. When you are loving, love. when you are talking with someone, talk. When you are looking at a flower, look. Catch the beauty of the moment!”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

“A life lived in love will never be dull.”
~ Leo Buscaglia ~

Visit the page about Leo Buscaglia’s books, or go directly to the main page for all the good quotes.

“Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

The Beginning

Born in 1883, Kahlil Gibran quotes hold as much meaning and sentiment now, as they did through his entire forty-eight year lifetime.

Born in Lebanon to an extremely poor family, Gibran received nothing in the way of a formal education during his early years. Gibran names the importance of his family’s priests, who, he quotes as “having an exceptional influence” on him.

These same priests taught a young Gibran everything he wanted to know about the bible, as well as the Syriac and Arabic languages.

Gibran’s father, who had once been well thought of in the field of apothecary, was jailed in 1891 for embezzlement after getting into trouble with gambling debts. It is this event, Kahlil Gibran quotes as being the catalyst for his mother’s decision to move herself and her children to America.

The move took place, despite Gibran’s father’s release from prison just before and the family settled in a Lebanese-Syrian-American community in Boston. Despite being placed in “special” education, a programme designed for immigrants who had had little to no previous education, Gibran was keen to learn.

As well as attending class, he enrolled himself in art school off his own back.

Kahlil Gibran says what happened next was a huge turning point in his life and one that was to design the course he would eventually take.

Gibran met Boston publisher, artist and photographer Fred Holland Day. A pleasant,affable man, he encouraged Gibran to be creative and was particularly supportive of his art. Quotes by Kahlil Gibran from around that time suggest Holland Day was responsible for Gibran’s first artwork sales.

His mother was still a huge influence on his life, and when she decided her children needed to be more involved with their own culture he gladly followed the family back to Lebanon. Over the passing years, Gibran attended a prep school and a well-to-do higher education institute in Beirut. As well as being something of a poet, Gibran loved to write and was heavily involved in the student-produced literary magazine at the institute.

Several Kahlil Gibran quotes indicate he had always wanted to return to America, although his return in 1902 was believed to be because his sister, brother and mother all died within a relatively short time of each other. Boston offered a familiar comfort for Gibran and his one remaining sister, so they returned – for what would be a very different second chance.

“Doubt is a pain too lonely to realize that faith is his twin brother”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Love and Doubt are not on speaking terms”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“You cannot laugh and be unkind at the same time”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“When you reach the end of what you should know, you will be at the beginning of what you should sense.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Your daily life is your temple and your religion.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“The appearance of things changes according to the emotions; and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“One’s own religion is after all a matter between oneself and one’s Maker and no one else’s.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

Career and Achievements

Many quotations by Kahlil Gibran concentrate on the importance of having faith, even when you really doubt yourself or your ability.

This is possibly because he struggled to have faith in his own ability, especially when it came to his art. Despite being an accomplished artist in watercolor and drawing – Gibran had studied at one of the most prestigious art colleges in Paris. He still could not accept he was exceptionally good at what he did.

His first exhibition took place in 1904 and was a resounding success. It was also around about this time that he found an editor and his writing was also recognised in its own right. Quotations by Kahlil Gibran recognised the huge influence of friends, Mary Elisabeth Haskell and Youssef Howayek had on his success.

Kahlil Gibran quotes and early writings were all written in Arabic, in fact it wasn’t until 1918 that his writing appeared in English for the first time. One of Gibran’s most famous pieces of work is a collection of parables called “The Madman“.

Kahlil Gibran never strayed too far from his first love, poetry and many of his pieces are responsible for some of the more spiritual quotes attributed to Gibran. Gibran was a huge part of the New York Pen League, a group designed essentially for immigrant poets.

You can read more about Kahlil Gibran and his books here.

“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Trust in dreams, for in them is the hidden gate to eternity.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“They deem me mad because I will not sell my days for gold; and I deem them mad because they think my days have a price.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“To belittle, you have to be little.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

Critics and Controversy

As far as is known, Kahlil Gibran had no critics and if he did, they were almost certainly not considered important enough to note.

In fact, Kahlil Gibran was extremely well thought of and virtually everyone who spent time in his presence agreed he was a warm, pleasant and talented individual.

Kahlil Gibran quotes his life as being a relatively happy one, although he is quick to point out he had more opportunity come his way then most. Gibran was not a controversial figure and quotations by Kahlil Gibran were not designed to stir up controversy or debate.

Yet, after he died, he did manage to cause something of a controversy when it was revealed that his life-long friend Mary Elizabeth Haskell was actually his lover. Unable to reveal the truth to her conservative family, Haskell is believed to have turned down at least two marriage proposals from Gibran.

Only a select few people knew of the pair’s love and, once the information was made public knowledge, they were described as a loving couple who only had eyes for each other. Many of Gibran’s most inspiring quotes were no doubt influenced by the fact he could not be open about how he felt about such an important person.

“Beauty is eternity, gazing at itself in the mirror”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Life without liberty is like a body without spirit.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling with the mistaken belief that you can not bear the pain. But you have already borne the pain. What you have not done is feel all you are beyond that pain.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“You have been told that, even like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link. This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link. To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of ocean by the frailty of its foam. To judge you by your failures is to cast blame upon the seasons for their inconstancy.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself … You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

The End

Kahlil Gibran died from tuberculosis in 1931, aged just 48-years of age.

Gibran had informed Mary Haskell and his sister that in the event of his death, he wished to be buried in Lebanon. This wish was granted when Haskell purchased the Mar Sarkis Monastery – where Gibran was laid to rest. There is a famous Kahlil Gibran quote etched into the stone around the entrance to the monastery – it reads:

“a word I want to see written on my grave: I am alive like you and I am standing beside you. Close your eyes, look around and you will see me.”

Gibran’s work is now more popular than ever, especially his artwork,which has been used as cover work from everything from children’s books to personal development guides.

Having willed everything he owned to Mary Haskell, she was shocked to find a vast amount of letters between the pair – letters that spanned two decades. Before her death in 1962, she donated them to the University of North Carolina and excerpts of the letters were subsequently printed in a book called “Beloved Prophet”.

Kahlil Gibran quotes are now commonly used in church sermons and educational lessons across the world. Many of the most popular self help quotes and personal development quotes can also be attributed to Gibran.

“I am not a politician, nor do I wish to become one”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

“Love is the only freedom in the world because it so elevates the spirit that the laws of humanity and the phenomena of nature do not alter its course.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

Go to the main page for all the pages with great quotes, also visit the page about Kahlil Gibran and his books.