The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 90 Of Joy and Sorrow
[Lebanon] Gibran
You hang like scales between your sorrows and your joys.

Your joy is your unmasked sorrow.

The well that springs from your laughter is the same well that has often been filled with your tears.

How could it be otherwise?
The deeper sorrow is etched in your body and mind, the more joy you can hold.

Is not the cup in which you hold your wine, the cup that was burned in the potter's kiln?

Isn't the lute that pleases your mind and sex a piece of wood hollowed out with a knife?
When you are joyful, look into the depths of your heart and you will find that what is giving you joy now is only the thing that made you sad in the first place.

When you are joyful, look into your heart again, and you will see that you are actually weeping over that which once made you joyful.

Some of you say, "The joy is greater than the sorrow." Others say, "No, the sorrow is greater."

However, I want to tell you that joy and sorrow are related and inseparable.

They come together, and when one dines with you alone, remember that the other sleeps soundly in your bed.

Doubtless you hang like a scale between your sorrows and your joys.

You are still, balanced only when there is nothing.

When the treasurer lifts you up to weigh his gold and silver, your joys and sorrows must rise and fall.

Heart mark notes
When God gave us joy, He also gave us sorrow.Happiness and sorrow are like the positive and negative sides of a coin, co-existing to form our complete life.

Happiness is indispensable, without happiness, there will be a lot of innocent laughter in life.

Sorrow is indispensable, without sorrow, life will lack a lot of heavy reflection.

Therefore, when happiness comes, please smile to your heart's content; when sorrow falls, please let your tears flow to your heart's content.The taste of life is like the seasoning in a bottle, with mixed flavors, we only need to taste carefully to understand life in each taste.

(End of this chapter)