---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I say that even as the holy and the…"
description: "\"“But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you,”\" — Kahlil Gibran"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/kahlil-gibran-1330_justice_but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the_3108500.jpg"
---

#  But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot…

![“But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you,” quote by Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/kahlil-gibran-1330_justice_but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the_3108500.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/kahlil-gibran-1330_justice_but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the_3108500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/kahlil-gibran-1330_justice_but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the_3108500.jpg)

> ““But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you,””

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Each person contains a divine potential that cannot be exceeded by external holiness or righteousness.

**In simple terms:** Inner divinity surpasses external labels.

Key Takeaway

Recognize your own inner greatness.

Themes

spirituality self‑worth potential

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- leadership
- self‑esteem

Key Concepts

Divine spark inner potential

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you nurture your inner potential?
- What limits do you place on yourself?

A Different Perspective

External validation cannot replace inner truth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Holy Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-righteous-551022/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) [Righteous Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous-rise-4394790/) [Rise Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise-highest-1046234/) [Say Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-holy-511212/)

## Related quotes

> [“But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you, So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the-righteous-cannot-rise-beyond/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [“The holy God proved holy by his righteous acts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-god-proved-holy-by-his-righteous-acts/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [We are not disqualified or bad people trying to be good. We are holy, righteous, and redeemed. Sometimes, we spend more time on what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-millard/we-are-not-disqualified-or-bad-people-trying-to-be-good-we-are-holy/)

[Bart Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-millard/)

> [Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/kites-rise-highest-against-the-wind-not-with-it/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [“It was necessary that spirituality sink to its lowest ebb that it should rise to the highest pinnacle in another direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-necessary-that-spirituality-sink-to-its-lowest-ebb-that-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“To rise, love yourself; to rise higher, love others; to rise highest, love everyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/to-rise-love-yourself-to-rise-higher-love-others-to-rise-highest-love/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“They rise highest who lift as they go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hall/they-rise-highest-who-lift-as-they-go/)

[Kevin Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hall/)

> [We must reacquaint ourselves with the biblical weight of the problem that we less-than-perfect human beings contend with in the face of a holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/we-must-reacquaint-ourselves-with-the-biblical-weight-of-the-problem/)

[Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/)

> [“God's Law is holy, righteous, and good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-s-law-is-holy-righteous-and-good/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Learned arguments do not make a man holy and righteous, whereas a good life makes him dear to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/learned-arguments-do-not-make-a-man-holy-and-righteous-whereas-a-good/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [Even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you, so the wicked and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/even-as-the-holy-and-the-righteous-cannot-rise-beyond-the-highest/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [Im a politician. What I say is not holy writ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-k-javits/im-a-politician-what-i-say-is-not-holy-writ/)

[Jacob K. Javits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-k-javits/)

> [“A Call to Holy Living 13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-call-to-holy-living-13-so-think-clearly-and-exercise-self-control/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What are we saying when we say now, something is holy? That means you should take a different attitude to what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/what-are-we-saying-when-we-say-now-something-is-holy-that-means-you/)

[Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/)

> [“You do not say someone is holy because he puts forth great ideas concerning the knowledge of God and the attributes of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-molinos/you-do-not-say-someone-is-holy-because-he-puts-forth-great-ideas/)

[Michael Molinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-molinos/)

## More by Kahlil Gibran

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-teacher-who-walks-in-the-shadow-of-the-temple-among-his-followers/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [We stood up and bade each other farewell, but love and despair stood between us like two ghosts, one stretching his wings with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/we-stood-up-and-bade-each-other-farewell-but-love-and-despair-stood/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“Oftentimes we call Life bitter names, but only when we ourselves are bitter and dark. And we deem her empty and unprofitable, but only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/oftentimes-we-call-life-bitter-names-but-only-when-we-ourselves-are/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“And what is fear of need but need itself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/and-what-is-fear-of-need-but-need-itself/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“For God opens the doors of truth to him who knocks with the hand of faith”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/for-god-opens-the-doors-of-truth-to-him-who-knocks-with-the-hand-of/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [Who can depart from his pain and aloneness without regret? Too many fragments of the spirit have I scattered in these streets, and too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/who-can-depart-from-his-pain-and-aloneness-without-regret-too-many/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“You are my brother and I love you. I love you worshipping in your church, kneeling in your temple, and praying in your mosque.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-are-my-brother-and-i-love-you-i-love-you-worshipping-in-your/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“You need not fear, my love, for never have the stars on high told what they know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-need-not-fear-my-love-for-never-have-the-stars-on-high-told-what/)

[Kahlil Gibrán](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-soul-walks-not-upon-a-line-neither-does-it-grow-like-a-reed/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“For if you should enter the temple for no other purpose than asking you shall not receive:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/for-if-you-should-enter-the-temple-for-no-other-purpose-than-asking/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/for-even-as-love-crowns-you-so-shall-he-crucify-you-even-as-he-is-for/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being,the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-deeper-that-sorrow-carves-into-your-being-the-more-joy-you-can/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“You are good when you are fully awake in your speech.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-are-good-when-you-are-fully-awake-in-your-speech/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

[Explore all 233 Kahlil Gibran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

## More Justice quotes

> [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/)

[Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/)

[Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/)

> [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/)

[Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/)

> [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/)

[Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/)

> [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/)

[Joseph Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-anderson/)

> [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/)

[Donald P. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/)

> [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/)

[George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/)

> [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/)

[L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/)

> [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/)

[Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/)

> [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/)

[Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/)

> [There is no freedom without justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/there-is-no-freedom-without-justice/)

[Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/)

> [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/)

[J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/)

> [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

[Browse all 13,527 Justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you,”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kahlil Gibran"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the-righteous-cannot-rise-beyond-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Justice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the-righteous-cannot-rise-beyond-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/kahlil-gibran-1330_justice_but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the_3108500.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/kahlil-gibran-1330_justice_but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the_3108500.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/kahlil-gibran-1330_justice_but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the_3108500.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you,” — Kahlil Gibran",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Kahlil Gibran",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“But I say that even as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the-righteous-cannot-rise-beyond-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/but-i-say-that-even-as-the-holy-and-the-righteous-cannot-rise-beyond-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
