--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one…" description: "\"“Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/kahlil-gibran-1330_quote_oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one_1415888.jpg" --- # Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a… ![“Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you, So the wicked and the weak cannot…” quote by Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/kahlil-gibran-1330_quote_oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one_1415888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/kahlil-gibran-1330_quote_oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one_1415888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/kahlil-gibran-1330_quote_oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one_1415888.jpg) > ““Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you, So the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also. And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree, So the wrong-doer cannot do wrong without the hidden will of you all. Like a procession you walk together towards your god-self. You are the way and the wayfarers. And when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the stumbling stone. ”” [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. Human actions reflect collective will; good and evil arise from shared inner nature, linking each individual's deeds to the whole. **In simple terms:** Our deeds mirror the group's hidden will. Key Takeaway Recognize shared responsibility in actions. Themes morality collective consciousness interconnectedness Mood thoughtful spiritual Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - community building - conflict resolution - ethical leadership - personal growth Key Concepts shared will personal responsibility spiritual unity Questions to Reflect On - What is your role in the collective moral fabric? - How can one resist harmful group influence? A Different Perspective Individual intent can be overridden by group pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caution Stumbling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caution-stumbling-1916407/) [Falls Caution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falls-caution-1916409/) [Stumbling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling/) [Stumbling Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling-stone-1916408/) [Walk God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-god/) ## Related quotes > [“Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one-who-commits-a-wrong-as/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [And when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the stumbling stone. Ay, and he falls for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/and-when-one-of-you-falls-down-he-falls-for-those-behind-him-a-2/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“And when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the stumbling stone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/and-when-one-of-you-falls-down-he-falls-for-those-behind-him-a/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“Like a procession you walk together towards your god-self. You are the way and the wayfarers. And when one of you falls down he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/like-a-procession-you-walk-together-towards-your-god-self-you-are-the/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“You are the way and the wayfarers. And when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-are-the-way-and-the-wayfarers-and-when-one-of-you-falls-down-he/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“Aye, and he falls for those ahead of him, who, though faster and surer of foot, yet removed not the stumbling stone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/aye-and-he-falls-for-those-ahead-of-him-who-though-faster-and-surer/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Thinking is always the stumbling stone to poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/thinking-is-always-the-stumbling-stone-to-poetry/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“There must be, and, if we are honest, there always will be at least one situation in our lives that we cannot fix, control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/there-must-be-and-if-we-are-honest-there-always-will-be-at-least-one-2/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“Be careful your footsteps do not stumble by the stumbling stone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/be-careful-your-footsteps-do-not-stumble-by-the-stumbling-stone/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [My desire is to walk with God every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-turner/my-desire-is-to-walk-with-god-every-day/) [Janine Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-turner/) > [There is no secret formula--only a life committed to a close walk with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/there-is-no-secret-formula-only-a-life-committed-to-a-close-walk-with/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [Life is a difficult road, but no one said you should walk it alone. God is by your side waiting for you to open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-difficult-road-but-no-one-said-you-should-walk-it-alone-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Learn to walk in God’s perception of who you are, because yours is not good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-cooke/learn-to-walk-in-god-s-perception-of-who-you-are-because-yours-is-not/) [Graham Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-cooke/) > [I cannot walk an inch / without trying to walk to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-cannot-walk-an-inch-without-trying-to-walk-to-god/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) ## 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 Stumbling quotes > [At some point during almost every romantic comedy, the female lead suddenly trips and falls, stumbling helplessly over something ridiculous like a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/at-some-point-during-almost-every-romantic-comedy-the-female-lead/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [Her lips on his could tell him better than all her stumbling words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/her-lips-on-his-could-tell-him-better-than-all-her-stumbling-words/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [Stumbling is not falling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/stumbling-is-not-falling/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Anyone who realises what Love is, the dedication of the heart, so profound, so absorbing, so mysterious, so imperative, and always just in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-carpenter/anyone-who-realises-what-love-is-the-dedication-of-the-heart-so/) [Edward Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-carpenter/) > [Many a professing Christian is a stumbling-block because his worship is divided. On Sunday he worships God; on weekdays God has little or no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/many-a-professing-christian-is-a-stumbling-block-because-his-worship/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is not in the event itself but how you think about it and what you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-difference-between-stepping-stones-and-stumbling-blocks-is-not-in/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/the-only-real-stumbling-block-is-fear-of-failure-in-cooking-you-ve/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Racism may be as systemic as it always was. It is the great problem of America. It's the one stumbling block that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-guillaume/racism-may-be-as-systemic-as-it-always-was-it-is-the-great-problem-of/) [Robert Guillaume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-guillaume/) > [In order to align your life choices with your values, you will need to inquire about the effects of your actions (and inactions) on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-weil/in-order-to-align-your-life-choices-with-your-values-you-will-need-to/) [Zoe Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-weil/) > [I will have nothing to do with a God who cares only occasionally. I need a God who is with us always, everywhere, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-will-have-nothing-to-do-with-a-god-who-cares-only-occasionally-i/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [America now is stumbling through the darkness of hatred and divisiveness. Our values, our principles, and our determination to succeed as a free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/america-now-is-stumbling-through-the-darkness-of-hatred-and/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Obstacles are not opposing you, but merely and gently re-routing you. It is important not to view that which stands in your way as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/obstacles-are-not-opposing-you-but-merely-and-gently-re-routing-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“The stumbling block will turn out to be the traditional one for students of consciousness: the flashlight is incapable of shining on itself, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/the-stumbling-block-will-turn-out-to-be-the-traditional-one-for/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [People are stumbling over the simplest things. Take, for instance, that word believeth. You would think that was plain enough for anybody, but all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/people-are-stumbling-over-the-simplest-things-take-for-instance-that/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) [Browse all 285 Stumbling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you, So the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also. And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree, So the wrong-doer cannot do wrong without the hidden will of you all. 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