"The Prophet" By Khalil Gibran: On Time

This is an audio version of the chapter from "The Prophet" by Khalil Gibran, called On Time. The astronomer asks the prophet to speak of time, and the prophet gives an answer of measureless and immeasurable.

Transcript

On time,

An astronomer said,

Master,

What of time?

And he answered,

You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.

You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons.

Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing.

Yet 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.

And that,

That which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.

Who among you does not feel that his power to love is boundless?

And yet who does not feel that very love,

Though boundless and compassed within the center of his being and moving not from love thought to love thought,

Nor from love deeds to other love deeds?

And it's not time even as love is undivided and spaceless.

But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons,

Let each season encircle all the other seasons and let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.