---
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/670/kahlil-gibran-1330_equality_oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one_1010977.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/670/kahlil-gibran-1330_equality_oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one_1010977.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/kahlil-gibran-1330_equality_oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one_1010977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/kahlil-gibran-1330_equality_oftentimes-have-i-heard-you-speak-of-one_1010977.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. Ay, and he falls for those ahead of him, who though faster and surer of foot, yet removed not 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; wrongdoing and virtue arise from shared inner potential.

**In simple terms:** Our deeds mirror the whole community’s spirit.

Key Takeaway

Consider how your actions affect the whole.

Themes

morality interconnectedness spirituality

Mood

contemplative inspirational

Type

philosophical poetic

When to use this quote

- community projects
- conflict resolution
- personal growth

Key Concepts

Collective consciousness responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What responsibility do you feel toward others' moral outcomes?
- How can you nurture positive collective will?

A Different Perspective

Assumes uniform moral capacity, overlooking individual differences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Caution Stumbling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caution-stumbling-1916407/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Falls Caution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falls-caution-1916409/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Jurisprudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jurisprudence/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one/) [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/)

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## 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/)

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