Children Quote by Kahlil Gibran
““Your children are not your children. They are sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For thir souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the make upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness. For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He also loves the bow that is stable.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, 1923
Children are independent beings, extensions of life's yearning, not possessions; parents should love them without imposing their own will.
In simple terms: Children belong to life, not to parents.
Key Takeaway
Love without control.
Themes
parenthood
spirituality
individuality
love
freedom
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- spiritual guidance
- personal growth
Key Concepts
existentialism
attachment theory
self‑actualization
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you love without trying to change?
- What does it mean to let go of expectations?
A Different Perspective
Parents cannot shape a child's inner self; they can only support.
