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 your tears.
An how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more
joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that
was burned in the potter's over?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very
wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you
shall find it is only that which 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 on your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow
and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold
and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.
From "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gabrin
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