The Prophet (1923) by Kahlil Gibran is a timeless spiritual classic, blending poetry, philosophy, and profound wisdom in a series of poetic essays. The book follows Almustafa, a prophet who has lived in the foreign city of Orphalese for 12 years. As he prepares to board a ship home, the people of the city ask him to share his insights on life’s deepest questions—love, marriage, work, joy, sorrow, freedom, and death.
Gibran’s lyrical prose, rich with metaphor and universal truths, offers meditations that resonate across cultures and generations. Lines like “Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself” and “Work is love made visible” have become iconic, inspiring readers with their simplicity and depth.
Though rooted in mystical traditions, The Prophet transcends religion, speaking to the human condition with elegance and grace. A masterpiece of inspirational literature, it remains one of the most beloved and widely translated works of the 20th century—a book to be revisited in moments of reflection, celebration, or seeking.
