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Secrets of the Heart
18x12 cm
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1947
63 people are currently reading
1094 people want to read
About the author
Kahlil Gibran
1,329 books15.1k followersKahlil Gibran (Arabic:
جبران خليل جبران
) was a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He 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 English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He 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 English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 5, 2009
I have this old paperback titled, "Secrets of the Heart" by Kahlil Gibran. Not, "Hearts" as this goodreads title reads. It is worn and torn and falling apart and I can't find its print date. But it contains one of my favorite quotes of all time - a quote fairly telling of why I will always and forever be a tree-hugging, romantic with a penchant toward mysticism:
"I sought solitude for in it there is a full life for the spirit and for the heart and for the body. I found the endless prairies where the light of the sun rests, and where the flowers breathe their fragrance into space, and where the streams sing their way into the sea. I discovered the mountains where I found the fresh awakening of Spring, and the colorful longing of Summer, and the rich songs of Autumn, and the beautiful mystery of winter. I came to this far corner of God's domain for I hungered to learn the secrets of the Universe, and approach close to the throne of God."
From The Tempest part II
"I sought solitude for in it there is a full life for the spirit and for the heart and for the body. I found the endless prairies where the light of the sun rests, and where the flowers breathe their fragrance into space, and where the streams sing their way into the sea. I discovered the mountains where I found the fresh awakening of Spring, and the colorful longing of Summer, and the rich songs of Autumn, and the beautiful mystery of winter. I came to this far corner of God's domain for I hungered to learn the secrets of the Universe, and approach close to the throne of God."
From The Tempest part II
May 9, 2013
Secrets of the Heart: Meditations of Kahilil Gibran (Hallmark Editions)
by Kahlil Gibran (Author of The Prophet )
Selected and with a Narration by Stanley Hendricks
Introduction by Manoocher Aryanpur
Drawings by Bill Greer
Excerpt:
"Life is that which we see and experience through the spirit;
But the world around us we come to know through understanding and reason."
The prose in this little book is deep. I have used it for years; to add a special message to a card, put that special something in a love letter, or even when leaving a quick note for someone I care about. The book is full of ideas, quotes, and poems to fit a wide array of occasions.
Chapters:
I. The Return
II. A Counselor of Men
III. On Love
IV. The Way of Marriage
V. On Reason and Knowledge
VI. On Joy and Sorrow
VII. On the Perfection of Man
VIII. On Man's Divinity
IX. On the Promise of the Future
X. Thoughts and Meditations
Excerpt:
"Your Truth shall meet my Truth and blend together like the fragrance of flowers and become one whole and eternal Truth, perpetuating and living in the eternity of Love and Beauty"
Much of the book has a philosophical, and at times religious, slant. It is easy to overlook with the beauty of the artwork and deep meaning behind much of the words. If you can find it, this is worth a read.
Get Your Copy of Secrets of the Heart: Meditations of Kahilil Gibran (Hallmark Editions) by Kahlil Gibran on Amazon Now!
by Kahlil Gibran (Author of The Prophet )
Selected and with a Narration by Stanley Hendricks
Introduction by Manoocher Aryanpur
Drawings by Bill Greer
Excerpt:
"Life is that which we see and experience through the spirit;
But the world around us we come to know through understanding and reason."
The prose in this little book is deep. I have used it for years; to add a special message to a card, put that special something in a love letter, or even when leaving a quick note for someone I care about. The book is full of ideas, quotes, and poems to fit a wide array of occasions.
Chapters:
I. The Return
II. A Counselor of Men
III. On Love
IV. The Way of Marriage
V. On Reason and Knowledge
VI. On Joy and Sorrow
VII. On the Perfection of Man
VIII. On Man's Divinity
IX. On the Promise of the Future
X. Thoughts and Meditations
Excerpt:
"Your Truth shall meet my Truth and blend together like the fragrance of flowers and become one whole and eternal Truth, perpetuating and living in the eternity of Love and Beauty"
Much of the book has a philosophical, and at times religious, slant. It is easy to overlook with the beauty of the artwork and deep meaning behind much of the words. If you can find it, this is worth a read.
Get Your Copy of Secrets of the Heart: Meditations of Kahilil Gibran (Hallmark Editions) by Kahlil Gibran on Amazon Now!
December 13, 2020
Allegories and poems about philosophy and religion. They vary in quality and interest. Mostly I liked the misanthropic hermit at the beginning. He's like a jerky Buddhist. I also liked "John the Madman" about the difference between real Christianity and false Christianity. There's a story about saving Satan and mermaids judging mankind. A lot of the mostly Christian philosophy (but also Muslim and Buddhist philosophy) resonated with me, but I didn't feel like I gained any new insights.
Read
December 30, 2024Will you accept a heart that loves,
But never yields? And burns, but
Never melts? Will you be at ease
With a soul that quivers before the
Tempest, but never surrenders to it?
Will you accept one as a companion
Who makes not slaves, nor will become
One? Will you own me but not possess
Me, by taking my body and not my heart?
Then here is my hand - grasp it with
Your beautiful hand; and here is my
Body - embrace it with your loving
Arms; and here are my lips - bestow
Upon them a deep and dizzying kiss.
Gibran is such an interesting medley of good and bad so far. One minute he'll be producing something like the passage above or like "Eventide of the Feast," and the next he'll be talking about how a woman's heart is "like a bird flying in the spacious sky of love" and how it's "a vase replenished with the wine of the ages that has been pressed for the sipping souls," so, like. The duality of man, &c, &c.
September 8, 2025
I've heard of Kahlil Gibran ((January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931) for many, many years, but had not sat down and read anything but quotes from his poetry. I was surprised to find this book so pessimistic and disheartening. Reading then the history of Lebanon, and knowing a little about the genocide of the Armenians, this makes sense.
I am not in the space for this however. Thus my low rating. Do not read if you are feeling down.
I am not in the space for this however. Thus my low rating. Do not read if you are feeling down.
October 19, 2014
This book was not one of my favorite works of Khalil Gibran. Though he is known for his grievous, yet captivating style of writing, but sometimes I would have liked his parables to not have a tragic ending. Maybe because I picked this book up right after I finished one of his other books, I thought some of the endings were getting monotonous, and hence unexciting.
Like in all his other books, the comparisons he made, the metaphors used, are a delight for the reader. I did thoroughly enjoy that aspect. I also loved the poem, The Countrymen.
I feel the book is blemished by the consistent mood throughout, but because of my devotion to Gibran, I might still reread it to explore what I might have missed the first time.
Like in all his other books, the comparisons he made, the metaphors used, are a delight for the reader. I did thoroughly enjoy that aspect. I also loved the poem, The Countrymen.
I feel the book is blemished by the consistent mood throughout, but because of my devotion to Gibran, I might still reread it to explore what I might have missed the first time.
July 6, 2012
This is a book of 11 pieces, a mix of short stories and poems. They're all characteristically of a beautiful language - beautiful in the sense that they all seem a little too... ornate, too flowery. (I suppose it's the writing style that dominates that part of the world?)
Nevertheless, the themes quite surprised me. I see here breaks in tradition, calls for change, intriguing endings. These are not your usual stories - these are stories that are meant to wake something inside you, making you remember that there's something quite not right in the world. Indeed, there's a strand of activism carefully weaved in *almost* every piece.
Few pages, great read. Nice food for thought :)
Nevertheless, the themes quite surprised me. I see here breaks in tradition, calls for change, intriguing endings. These are not your usual stories - these are stories that are meant to wake something inside you, making you remember that there's something quite not right in the world. Indeed, there's a strand of activism carefully weaved in *almost* every piece.
Few pages, great read. Nice food for thought :)
January 12, 2012
Kahlil Gibran is one of my favorite authors. Everything that I have read written by him is amazing. This book is sectioned off into many short stories, poems, and beautiful sayings. His works impress upon me deeply, simple truths that bring light to the heart. One of my favorite quotes in the book is: "God has placed in each soul a true guide to the great light, but man struggles to find life outside himself, unaware that the life he is seeking is within him."
September 16, 2022
I have read The Prophet probably four or five years back and loved it a lot. But while I was reading this book by the same writer, the great Khalil Gibran, it all seemed psudo-spiritual. It did not attract me at all. Probably I have changed from what I was four or five years ago. I guess that's what happens with the course of time with everyone.
April 14, 2007
داستان عشق به زنی به نام سلیمه است
September 3, 2007
Like all Khalil Gibran's books, this is filled with amazing writings.
May 8, 2008
Beautiful.
November 11, 2008
A nice read. It is short but deep.
July 14, 2011
read this in an hour at work WHILE working!
July 31, 2012
it's a great book it have money stories each one criticize a behavior in people and it's more of a spiritual book <3
August 28, 2012
1968 Hallmark edition, drawings by Bill Greer.
July 3, 2014
it is the best book i have read so far . it completely changed me and my lifestyle. a compltee bonus for everyone who thoroughly read this book.
August 13, 2015
overall it was good, though my quite for me
Read
February 16, 2016from Mom and Dad, Christmas 1970
December 27, 2011
Beautifully written!
May 13, 2013
Beautiful read
March 6, 2023
We and You
We are the sons of Sorrow, and you are the
Sons of Joy. We are the sons of Sorrow,
And Sorrow is the the holy shadow who
Lives not in the domain of evil hearts.
We are sorrowful spirits, and Sorrow is
Too great to exist in small hearts.
When you laugh, we cry and lament; and he
Who is seared and cleansed once with his
Own tears will remain pure forevermore.
You understand us not, but we offer our
Sympathy to you. You are racing with the
Current of the River of Life, and you
Do not look upon us; but we are sitting by
The coast, watching you and hearing your
Strange voices.
You do not comprehend our cry, for the
Clamour of the days is crowding your ears,
Blocked with the hard substance of your
Years of indifference to truth; but we hear
Your songs, for the whispering of the night
Has opened our inner hearts.
We see you Standing under the pointing finger of light,
But you cannot see us, for we are tarrying
In the enlightening darkness.
We are the sons of Sorrow; we are the poets
And the prophets and the musicians. We weave
Raiment for the goddess from the threads of
Our hearts, and we fill the hands, of the
Angels with the seeds of our inner selves.
You are the sons of the pursuit of earthly
Gaiety. You place your hearts in the hands
Of Emptiness, for the hand’s touch to
Emptiness is smooth and inviting.
You reside in the house of Ignorance, for
In his house there is no mirror in which to
View your souls.
We sigh, and from our sighs arise the
Whispering of flowers and the rustling of
Leaves and the murmur of rivulets.
When you ridicule us your taunts mingle
With the crushing of the skulls and the
Rattling of shackles and the wailing of the
Abyss. When we cry, our tears fall into the
Heart of Life, as dew drops fall from the
Eyes of Night into the heart of Dawn; and
When you laugh, your mocking laughter pours
Down like the viper’s venom into a wound.
We cry, and sympathize with the miserable
Wanderer and distressed widow; but you rejoice
And smile at the sight of resplendent gold.
We cry, for we listen to the moaning of the
Poor and the grieving of the oppressed weak;
But you laugh, for you hear naught but the
Happy sound of the wine goblets.
We cry, for our spirits are at the moment
Separated from God; but you laugh, for your
Bodies cling with unconcern to the earth.
We are the sons of Sorrow, and you are the
Sons of Joy. We are the sons of Sorrow,
And Sorrow is the the holy shadow who
Lives not in the domain of evil hearts.
We are sorrowful spirits, and Sorrow is
Too great to exist in small hearts.
When you laugh, we cry and lament; and he
Who is seared and cleansed once with his
Own tears will remain pure forevermore.
You understand us not, but we offer our
Sympathy to you. You are racing with the
Current of the River of Life, and you
Do not look upon us; but we are sitting by
The coast, watching you and hearing your
Strange voices.
You do not comprehend our cry, for the
Clamour of the days is crowding your ears,
Blocked with the hard substance of your
Years of indifference to truth; but we hear
Your songs, for the whispering of the night
Has opened our inner hearts.
We see you Standing under the pointing finger of light,
But you cannot see us, for we are tarrying
In the enlightening darkness.
We are the sons of Sorrow; we are the poets
And the prophets and the musicians. We weave
Raiment for the goddess from the threads of
Our hearts, and we fill the hands, of the
Angels with the seeds of our inner selves.
You are the sons of the pursuit of earthly
Gaiety. You place your hearts in the hands
Of Emptiness, for the hand’s touch to
Emptiness is smooth and inviting.
You reside in the house of Ignorance, for
In his house there is no mirror in which to
View your souls.
We sigh, and from our sighs arise the
Whispering of flowers and the rustling of
Leaves and the murmur of rivulets.
When you ridicule us your taunts mingle
With the crushing of the skulls and the
Rattling of shackles and the wailing of the
Abyss. When we cry, our tears fall into the
Heart of Life, as dew drops fall from the
Eyes of Night into the heart of Dawn; and
When you laugh, your mocking laughter pours
Down like the viper’s venom into a wound.
We cry, and sympathize with the miserable
Wanderer and distressed widow; but you rejoice
And smile at the sight of resplendent gold.
We cry, for we listen to the moaning of the
Poor and the grieving of the oppressed weak;
But you laugh, for you hear naught but the
Happy sound of the wine goblets.
We cry, for our spirits are at the moment
Separated from God; but you laugh, for your
Bodies cling with unconcern to the earth.
July 5, 2025
“Dead Are My People” will change your life, if you read it through the eyes of the Palestinian people. Gibran wrote this poem about the death and suffering of the people of Lebanon during World War I, about famine, silence and forgotten graves. But what makes it haunting is his guilt. He escaped it. He left with his family to America and lived while his people died. Or at least, that’s what I took from it.
"Gone are my people, but I exist yet,
Lamenting them in my solitude...
Dead are my friends, and in their Death my life is naught but great
Disaster.
The knolls of my country are submerged
By tears and blood, for my people and
My beloved are gone, and I am here
Living as I did when my people and my
Beloved were enjoying life and the
Bounty of life, and when the hills of
My country were blessed and engulfed
By the light of the sun."
"My people and your people, my Syrian
Brother, are dead....What can be
Done for those who are dying? Our
Lamentations will not satisfy their
Hunger, and our tears will not quench
Their thirst; what can we do to save
Them between the iron paws of
Hunger? My brother, the kindness
Which compels you to give a part of
Your life to any human who is in the
Shadow of losing his life is the only
Virtue which makes you worthy of the
Light of day and the peace of the
Night....Remember, my brother,
That the coin which you drop into
The withered hand stretching toward
You is the only golden chain that
Binds your rich heart to the
Loving heart of God....."
"Gone are my people, but I exist yet,
Lamenting them in my solitude...
Dead are my friends, and in their Death my life is naught but great
Disaster.
The knolls of my country are submerged
By tears and blood, for my people and
My beloved are gone, and I am here
Living as I did when my people and my
Beloved were enjoying life and the
Bounty of life, and when the hills of
My country were blessed and engulfed
By the light of the sun."
"My people and your people, my Syrian
Brother, are dead....What can be
Done for those who are dying? Our
Lamentations will not satisfy their
Hunger, and our tears will not quench
Their thirst; what can we do to save
Them between the iron paws of
Hunger? My brother, the kindness
Which compels you to give a part of
Your life to any human who is in the
Shadow of losing his life is the only
Virtue which makes you worthy of the
Light of day and the peace of the
Night....Remember, my brother,
That the coin which you drop into
The withered hand stretching toward
You is the only golden chain that
Binds your rich heart to the
Loving heart of God....."
November 23, 2023
"Beauty is that which attracts the soul, and that which loves to give and not to receive".
The true light is that which emanates from within man, and reveals the secrets of the heart to the soul, making it happy and contented with life".
"The appearance of things changes according to the emotions, and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves".
"Love is the only freedom in the world because it elevates the spirit that the laws of humanity and the phenomena of nature do not alter its course".
"Hearts that are united through the medium of sorrow will not be separated by the glory of happiness".
"Love that is cleansed by tears will remain eternally pure and beautiful".
"Every beauty and greatness in this world is created by a single thought or emotion inside a man".
"He who understands you is greater kin to you than your own brother. For even your own kindred may neither understand you nor know your true worth".
"A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more tha much knowledge that is idle".
The true light is that which emanates from within man, and reveals the secrets of the heart to the soul, making it happy and contented with life".
"The appearance of things changes according to the emotions, and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves".
"Love is the only freedom in the world because it elevates the spirit that the laws of humanity and the phenomena of nature do not alter its course".
"Hearts that are united through the medium of sorrow will not be separated by the glory of happiness".
"Love that is cleansed by tears will remain eternally pure and beautiful".
"Every beauty and greatness in this world is created by a single thought or emotion inside a man".
"He who understands you is greater kin to you than your own brother. For even your own kindred may neither understand you nor know your true worth".
"A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more tha much knowledge that is idle".
August 5, 2021
"Unless I be endowed with wide knowledge, keen judgement, and great experience, how could I count myself a counselor of men?"
Those are the words that really drew me into this book. The entire work is peppered throughout with great bits of philosophy and spiritual mantras. Kahlil Gibran definitely had a vision of a world in which everyone has achieved an internal, spiritual wholeness, and this work focuses on just that. In his opinion, the pain and sorrow of the individual is felt by the masses; the achievement of the individual should be the pride and joy of the masses. It is beautifully written.
"I would not exchange the laughter of my heart for the fortunes of the multitude;
Nor would I be content with converting my tears, invited by my agonized self, into calm."
It's a short book. Well worth the read.
Those are the words that really drew me into this book. The entire work is peppered throughout with great bits of philosophy and spiritual mantras. Kahlil Gibran definitely had a vision of a world in which everyone has achieved an internal, spiritual wholeness, and this work focuses on just that. In his opinion, the pain and sorrow of the individual is felt by the masses; the achievement of the individual should be the pride and joy of the masses. It is beautifully written.
"I would not exchange the laughter of my heart for the fortunes of the multitude;
Nor would I be content with converting my tears, invited by my agonized self, into calm."
It's a short book. Well worth the read.
October 17, 2021
If you are interested in philosophical considerations that surround the nature of society: it's laws, religions, customs and culture; then boom you've found your philosophy book. Though this one is flavored from a Syrian/Lebanese skin. It was fine and good, I give it a 4 only because the ideas can be found in many other philosophy books, so this one won't strike you as special if you are well read in that field. Though, it is written very well, and the format: poems, parables, short stories, and plays; makes this an entertaining experience regardless of philosophical interest.
Ultimately, I'd say it was worth the read and if you aren't loving it, because it is broken up into small sections of reading, you can leave it at any point and not feel like you've received an incomplete picture.
Ultimately, I'd say it was worth the read and if you aren't loving it, because it is broken up into small sections of reading, you can leave it at any point and not feel like you've received an incomplete picture.
March 31, 2025
I picked up The Secrets of the Heart by Kahlil Gibran at a yard sale to use as ‘decor’. I never actually intended to read this book, but out of curiosity, I flipped through it and ended up finishing it in about an hour.
The book consists of 11 short stories and poems, all of which are heavily tied to religious and spiritual themes.
While Gibran’s writing is poetic, the book didn’t really do much for me. The spiritual and religious themes made it hard to connect with.
The one exception was The Ambitious Violet. It was the only story that resonated with me - simple yet powerful in its message about striving for more, even at great risk. It had a depth that the rest of the book lacked.
The book consists of 11 short stories and poems, all of which are heavily tied to religious and spiritual themes.
While Gibran’s writing is poetic, the book didn’t really do much for me. The spiritual and religious themes made it hard to connect with.
The one exception was The Ambitious Violet. It was the only story that resonated with me - simple yet powerful in its message about striving for more, even at great risk. It had a depth that the rest of the book lacked.
August 22, 2025
This collection of smaller works of Khalil Gibran is, I think, best read after some of his other works. Particularly The Broken Wings, since I think much of what he is playing with and expounding upon in these short stories and poems can be traced to his autobiographical work.
Much of it is relevant in today’s political climate, and all of it is poetic and good. Some of the pieces are bone-chillingly good. From “Honeyed Poison”:
“The onlookers stood astounded, and it was as though the unseen hands of fate had clutched with icy fingers at their hearts.”
God have I felt that. Thankfully only but a handful of times.
Much of it is relevant in today’s political climate, and all of it is poetic and good. Some of the pieces are bone-chillingly good. From “Honeyed Poison”:
“The onlookers stood astounded, and it was as though the unseen hands of fate had clutched with icy fingers at their hearts.”
God have I felt that. Thankfully only but a handful of times.
May 20, 2024
i think in essence this book confirms my distaste for compilation books, in that a lot of this felt disjointed even when the subject matter was technically similar. despite that, Gibran is a master of words and his decorum therein is apparent throughout. worth the read even for “The Ambitious Violet,” “The Day of My Birth,” and “The Cortége.” each of those readings left me with the realization that there were far too many treasures of wisdom to leave it for one reading. i’ll definitely be revisiting this one.
May 19, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews