Kahlil Gibran's 'The Prophet'

Selections from 'The Prophet'

THEN a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with yourtears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into yourbeing, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the verycup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes yourspirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only thatwhich has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping
for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you atstandstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs mustyour joy or your sorrow rise or fall.