Self-Knowledge

And a man said, Speak to us of Self-

Knowledge.

And he answered, saying:

Your hearts know in silence the secrets

of the days and the nights.

But your ears thirst for the sound of

your heart's knowledge.

You would know in words that which

you have always known in thought.

You would touch with your fingers the

naked body of your dreams.

And it is well you should.

The hidden well-spring of your soul must

needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;

And the treasure of your infinite depths

would be revealed to your eyes.

But let there be no scales to weigh your

unknown treasure;

And seek not the depths of your knowl-

edge with staff or sounding line.

For self is a sea boundless and measure-

less.

Say not, "I have found the truth," but

rather, "I have found a truth."

Say not, "I have found the path of the soul."

Say rather, "I have met the soul walking

upon my path."

For the soul walks upon all paths.

The soul walks not upon a line, neither

does it grow like a reed.

The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of

countless petals.

The Prophet

By

Kahlil Gibran

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