Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) was a Lebanese-American writer, poet, and visual artist. He is best known for The Prophet (1923), a book of prose poetry that has sold over 100 million copies and been translated into more than 100 languages. Born in Bsharri, Lebanon, he emigrated to Boston at age 12 and spent his adult life in the United States. He wrote in both Arabic and English. He is the third best-selling poet of all time, after Shakespeare and Lao Tzu.

What Is The Prophet About?

The Prophet follows Almustafa, a wise man who has lived in the city of Orphalese for twelve years. As he prepares to leave, the people ask him to speak on various aspects of life. He delivers 26 prose poems on topics including love, marriage, children, work, joy and sorrow, freedom, pain, friendship, death, and beauty. Each chapter stands as an independent meditation. The book is structured like wisdom literature — closer to Ecclesiastes or the Tao Te Ching than to a traditional novel.

What Is Gibran's Most Famous Quote?

Gibran's most quoted passage is from the chapter On Children: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you. Other widely quoted passages include: out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls and work is love made visible.

Did Gibran Write in Arabic or English?

Both. Gibran wrote his early works in Arabic, including Spirits Rebellious (1908) and Broken Wings (1912), which are considered important works of modern Arabic literature. The Prophet and his later works were written in English. He is celebrated in the Arab world as a literary pioneer and in the English-speaking world as a spiritual writer.

How Did Gibran Die?

Gibran died on April 10, 1931, in New York City, at age 48. The cause was cirrhosis of the liver (related to alcoholism) and tuberculosis. His body was returned to Lebanon and entombed in a cave in Bsharri, which is now the Gibran Museum.

Can You Talk to Kahlil Gibran?

Kahlil Gibran is available as an AI companion on HoloDream. He speaks slowly. Every word sounds like it has been waiting centuries to be said.