Good and Evil

my library | 1927 | Kahlil Gibran

[Phil V.]

 

Good and Evil

FROM "The Prophet"

By Kahlil Gibran

AND one of the elders of the city said, Speak to us of Good and Evil.

And he answered:

Of the good in you I can speak, but not of the evil.

For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?

Verily when good is hungry it seeks food even in dark caves, and when it thirsts it drinks even of dead waters.

You are good when you are one with yourself.

Yet when you are not one with yourself you are not evil.

For a divided house is not a den of thieves; it is only a divided house.      

And a ship without rudder may wander aimlessly among perilous isles yet sink not to the bottom.

You are good when you strive to give of yourself.

Yet you are not evil when you seek gain for yourself.

For when you strive for gain you are but a root that clings to the earth and sucks at her breast.

Surely the fruit cannot say to the root, "Be like me, ripe and full and ever giving of your abundance."

For to the fruit giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root.

You are good when you are fully awake in your speech,

Yet you are not evil when you sleep while your tongue staggers without purpose.       

And even stumbling speech may strengthen a weak tongue. 

You are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps.

Yet you are not evil when you go thither limping.

Even those who limp go not backward.

But you who are strong and swift, see that you do not limp before the lame, deeming it kindness.

You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good, 

You are only loitering and sluggard.

Pity that the stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.

In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.

But in some of you that longing is a torrent rushing, with might to the sea, carrying the secrets of the hillsides and the songs of the forest.

And in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.

But let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, "Wherefore are you slow and halting? "

For the truly good ask not the naked, "Where is your garment?" nor the houseless, "What has befallen your house?" 
 
 
 

[Phil V.]

fyi

Kahlil Gibran - Lebanon - published "The Prophet" in 1927.

Such silly notions . . .

[Free the USA]

bttt

[Nachum]

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is.
Many persons strive for high ideals
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disappointment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars.
You have a right to be here.
And whether it is clear to you or not,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive him to be,
and whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham and drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Found in Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore, U.S.A. Dated 1692
............

whoopee

[poet]

Here's something I wrote back in 1992

Duality

There’s two of us, you know
one says yes, one says no
one shields, one yields
one protects, one defects

One has been a coward
one has been brave
one has been Saintly
one has been a knave

One is sick
one is well
one sees Heaven
one sees Hell

One is a liar
one speaks truth
one is gentle
one is a brute

One is strong
one is weak
only one can attain
a lofty peak

One will survive
one will die
one will have joy
one will cry

Yahweh gave us this duality
along with individuality
it’s part of our free will
we can choose to keep
the dark side still

Copyright(c) 1999 By John J. Lindsay.All rights Reserved
September 3, 1992

[Lazamataz]

Good and Evil

If you don't give the Palestinians a state, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If you offer the Palestinians a state, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If you show the Palestinians weakness, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If you show the Palestinians strength, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If you negotiate in good faith with the Palestinians, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If you stop negotiating with the Palestinians, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If you give the Palestinians police powers and autonomous areas, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If you settle Israelites in those autonomous areas, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If you remove those Israelites, they blow up 12 year old girls.
If the UN condemns Israel against Palestine, they blow up 12 year old girls.
IF the UN condemns Palestine, they blow up 12 year old girls.

Copyright(c) 2002 By Lazamataz. All rights Reserved

[Semper]

Such silly notions

Different culture - translation from another language.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

[Phil V.]

You have a right to be here.
And whether it is clear to you or not,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive him to be,
and whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace with your soul.

whoopee

I understand "whoopee" - sadly, I understand.

[Phil V.]

Thank you!

[poet]

You are welcome. Glad you liked it (he said blushingly)

[Phil V.]

Your premise hinges on "they".
A benevolent despotism awaits.
The day may well come when "we" will be "they".
Some will grow weary of despotism - benevolent or oppressive.

[Lazamataz]

I tried to read your message, but a 12 year old Palestinian suicide bomber blew it up first.

[Lazamataz]

As opposed to a a 21-year old IDF tank gunner?

IDF tank gunners don't typically target innocent civilians, and any that do are also terrorists. I have no patience with those who target noncombatants, and there is a special place in hell for every last one of the b*st*rds who do that, regardless of religion.

Just seems that the Palestinians seem to have an overwhelming superority in killing innocent civilians.

[Semper]

Are the Palestinians pure evil and the Israelites pure good? No.

If all Palestinians were removed from the face of the Earth, would Israel be safe? No.

Obviously the Palestinians must stop the bombing. Is there anything the Israelis must do?

[Phil V.]

I tried to read your message, but . . .

Don't worry.
Be happy.
The future will come in spite of us.

[Lazamataz]

Are the Palestinians pure evil and the Israelites pure good? No.

Of course.

If all Palestinians were removed from the face of the Earth, would Israel be safe? No.

Of course.

Obviously the Palestinians must stop the bombing. Is there anything the Israelis must do?

I think simply returning to the original offer of nearly 40% of Israels native land as a free and contiguous, independant Palestinian state, with half of Jerusalem as their capital, is pretty decent. I mean, you gotta admit the Israelites were pretty damned good with that offer, don't you?

That offer was met with 12 year old girls blowing themselves up.

[Lazamataz]

Don't worry. Be happy.

I liked that song, but I preferred 'Because I Got High'.

[Phil V.]

. . . notes of sanity and reason that are increasingly outshouted here at Free Republic. Keep it up . . .

Back atcha!