I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.
And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart: Your seeds shall live in my body, And the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart, And your fragrance shall be my breath, And together we shall rejoice through all the seasons.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses the interconnectedness of life and the beauty of growth through our experiences.
Khalil Gibran's quote speaks to the deep connection we share with nature and the cyclical essence of life. It emphasizes how the act of consuming an apple transcends mere sustenance; it becomes a symbolic union where the seeds of that fruit live on within us, nourishing our spirit and allowing for future growth and joy. Through this perspective, Gibran encourages us to appreciate the life we consume and to recognize the ongoing relationship we share with the environment around us.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about sustainability, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of respecting nature.
More from Khalil Gibran
All quotes →Be patient, for it is from doubt that knowledge is born.
Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
God made Truth with many doors to welcome every believer who knocks on them.
Happiness is a vine that takes root and grows within the heart, never outside it.
Solitude has soft, silky hands, but with strong fingers it grasps the heart and makes it ache with sorrow.
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If I should die tomorrow, I will have no regrets. I did what I wanted to do. You can't expect more from life.
Misery won't touch you gentle. It always leaves its thumbprints on you; sometimes it leaves them for others to see, sometimes for nobody but you to know of.
I wanted so much to have a life. Even just once, even for a second.
What can we do but keep on breathing in and out, modest and willing, and in our places?
If you are coaching kids, the smile on a kid when he does the right thing, when he puts the ball in the net, that's the reward right there.