Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Kahlil Gibran on Meaning

"Half of what I say is meaningless;
but I say it so that the other half may reach you."

From Sand and Foam (1926)

Onward!
Image Credit

2 comments:

Kimberly said...

But does it need to mean something?

Really it only gains meaning we give it.

What I say with one intention is given another meaning by what you hear.

We grasp at what we want. At least something reaches us; otherwise we are all lost causes.

Keep saying it all because you never know which half is reaching us.

Peace,
K

Ridwan said...

Thanks Kim. I came across this quote while reading elsewhere on an absolutely different topic.

It just struck me in large part because it also embodies Taoist principles to some extent.

And I think you touch on that - we cannot know which part is meaningful because both are meaningful and meaningless at any one given time.

It is the relationship to the whole that is more important.

Meaning is subjective and changing and it belongs to no-one and to no disposition - theoretical or otherwise.

I have read Gibran before and always thought him to be a tragic-romantic.

Reading his poem Hymn of Life last night made me see him like a fellow traveler.

Of course I have a chapter to finish and a book to edit and publication deadlines to keep - what better time to read poetry and swat mosquitoes in the heat of a dusty bowl night, hey?

Onward!
ridi