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Many are the fools who say that Jesus stood in His own path and opposed Himself; that He knew not His own mind, and in the absence of that knowledge confounded Himself. Many indeed are the owls who know no song unlike their own hooting. You and I know the jugglers of words who would honor only a greater juggler, men who carry their heads in baskets to the market-place and sell them to the first bidder. We know the pygmies who abuse the sky-man. And we know what the weed would say of the oak tree and the cedar. I pity them that they cannot rise to the heights.

Khalil Gibran#22

UnderstandingCriticismGreatnessPerspective

About this quote

What does it mean?
Critics who misunderstand Jesus are compared to owls and weeds that cannot rise above their limits.
In plain terms
People who criticize great leaders are like owls who cannot understand songs unlike their own.
What can you take from it?
Critics often lack the height to understand greatness.

Where it applies

  • debate
  • public discourse
  • personal growth

Putting it to work

  • seek broader perspective
  • do not limit others

Questions to consider

  • Why do people criticize?
  • How do you rise above limits?

Another view

It dismisses legitimate criticism as mere ignorance.

More from Khalil Gibran

  1. In truth we gaze but do not see, and hearken but do not hear; we eat and drink but do not taste. And there lies the difference between Jesus of Nazareth and ou…

    Permalink to quote #21
  2. There are the men who say, 'He preached tenderness and kindliness and filial love, yet He would not heed His mother and His brothers when they sought Him in th…

    Permalink to quote #23
  3. He knew the depth of beauty, He was for ever surprised by its peace and its majesty; and He stood before the earth as the first man had stood before the first …

    Permalink to quote #20

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