— Khalil GibranThe Prophet (1923), On Self-Knowledge
Commentary
This sentence, which belongs to the chapter On Self-Knowledge, identifies goodness with integrity, understood as the unity of the self with itself rather than conformity to an external rule. Gibran's formulation is notable for its psychological emphasis, and it implies that moral failure begins with inner division rather than with any particular act. Suheil Bushrui argues that the chapter draws on the Socratic injunction to know oneself, while giving it a mystical turn in which self-knowledge leads to recognition of the divine within. Mikhail Naimy's biography describes Gibran's lifelong quest for an integrated identity across two languages and cultures, which lends the sentiment autobiographical weight. Virginia Hilu's letters reflect a writer who was often conscious of being divided between Lebanese roots and American life, and who sought in his art a means of reconciliation. The line may appear to be a simple moral maxim, but within the chapter it is part of a sustained argument about self-examination. The English wording is secure and can be checked against the 1923 text.
Commentary
This sentence, which belongs to the chapter On Self-Knowledge, identifies goodness with integrity, understood as the unity of the self with itself rather than conformity to an external rule. Gibran's formulation is notable for its psychological emphasis, and it implies that moral failure begins with inner division rather than with any particular act. Suheil Bushrui argues that the chapter draws on the Socratic injunction to know oneself, while giving it a mystical turn in which self-knowledge leads to recognition of the divine within. Mikhail Naimy's biography describes Gibran's lifelong quest for an integrated identity across two languages and cultures, which lends the sentiment autobiographical weight. Virginia Hilu's letters reflect a writer who was often conscious of being divided between Lebanese roots and American life, and who sought in his art a means of reconciliation. The line may appear to be a simple moral maxim, but within the chapter it is part of a sustained argument about self-examination. The English wording is secure and can be checked against the 1923 text.