It's the birthday of Khalil Gibran (January 6, 1883). He was a mystic, writer, poet, and visual artist.

Self-portrait

Click this self-portrait to view Aphorisms of Gibran from his poem "Sand and Foam," accompanied by beautiful impressionistic music.

One of his most notable lines of poetry is from "Sand and Foam" (1926), which reads: "Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it so that the other half may reach you." This line was used by John Lennon and placed, though in a slightly altered form, into the song "Julia" from The Beatles 1968 album The Beatles (aka "The White Album").

Gibran is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again especially in the 1960s counter culture. Thousands of hippies and college students read the book and passed it on to others. Many weddings used passages from The Prophet. Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao Tze (reputed author of the Tao Te Ching).

Quotes from The Prophet
"The timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness. And knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.” 

"You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” 

"Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror.
But you are eternity and you are the mirror.”

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things, does the heart find its morning and is refreshed.” 

"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.” 


“And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.” 

"Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed: For love is sufficient unto love.”