--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield…" description: "\"“Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against your passion and your appetite. Would that I could be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/kahlil-gibran-1330_mighty-wind_your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-up_1385660.jpg" --- # Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your… ![“Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against your passion and your appetite. Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul, that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody. But how shall I, unless you…” quote by Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/kahlil-gibran-1330_mighty-wind_your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-up_1385660.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/kahlil-gibran-1330_mighty-wind_your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-up_1385660.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/kahlil-gibran-1330_mighty-wind_your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-up_1385660.jpg) > ““Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against your passion and your appetite. Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul, that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody. But how shall I, unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers of all your elements? Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas. For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction. Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing; And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes. I would have you consider your judgment and your appetite even as you would two loved guests in your house. Surely you would not honour one guest above the other; for he who is more mindful of one loses the love and the faith of both. Among the hills, when you sit in the cool shade of the white poplars, sharing the peace and serenity of distant fields and meadows -- then let your heart say in silence, "God rests in reason." And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky -- then let your heart say in awe, "God moves in passion." And since you are a breath in God's sphere, and a leaf in God's forest, you too should rest in reason and move in passion.”” [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. The passage describes the inner struggle between reason and passion, urging balance to achieve harmony and creative vitality. **In simple terms:** Balance mind and heart for harmony. Key Takeaway Cultivate both logic and feeling. Themes balance inner conflict spirituality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - creative work - conflict resolution - spiritual practice Key Concepts reason passion harmony self‑mastery Questions to Reflect On - What does balance look like in your life? - How can you honor both reason and passion? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on balance may ignore necessary tension for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mighty wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mighty-wind/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace and serenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-and-serenity/) [Phoenix Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phoenix-rise/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Thunder and lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thunder-and-lightning/) ## Related quotes > [“Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either your sails or your rudder be broken,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/your-reason-and-your-passion-are-the-rudder-and-the-sails-of-your-2/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“And the priestess spoke again and said: “Speak to us of Reason and Passion“ And he answered saying: Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gibran-khalil-gibran/and-the-priestess-spoke-again-and-said-speak-to-us-of-reason-and/) [Gibran Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gibran-khalil-gibran/) > [“Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-reason-and-your-passion-are-the-rudder-and-the-sails-of-your-3/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may livethrough its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/and-let-it-direct-your-passion-with-reason-that-your-passion-may/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“You're reason and your passion are the rudder.. and the sails of your soul. If either be broken, you will drift or be held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-re-reason-and-your-passion-are-the-rudder-and-the-sails-of-your-2/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > ['You're reason and your passion are the rudder.. and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either be broken, you can but toss and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-reason-and-your-passion-are-the-rudder-and-the-sails-of-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahil-gibran/your-reason-and-your-passion-are-the-rudder-and-the-sails-of-your/) [Kahil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahil-gibran/) > [Your reason and your passion are your rudder and sails of your seafaring soul, if either your sails or your rudder be broken, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-reason-and-your-passion-are-your-rudder-and-sails-of-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“All this is, of course, the old philosophic distinction between reason and passion; but Spinoza adds vitally to Socrates and the Stoics. He knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/all-this-is-of-course-the-old-philosophic-distinction-between-reason/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [Le raison avant la passion - Reason over passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/le-raison-avant-la-passion-reason-over-passion/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [“And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky, – then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/and-when-the-storm-comes-and-the-mighty-wind-shakes-the-forest-and/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [Passion is the breath we take, the water we drink to sustain ourselves. Without air and water we perish; without passion an artist will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/passion-is-the-breath-we-take-the-water-we-drink-to-sustain-ourselves/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [“And speaking of passion," his breath floated over my lips, "I've found one that has nothing to do with paints and canvas." His lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-oliver/and-speaking-of-passion-his-breath-floated-over-my-lips-i-ve-found/) [Tess Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-oliver/) > [“I have no other passion to keep me in breath. What avarice, ambition, quarrels, law suits do for others who, like me, have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-no-other-passion-to-keep-me-in-breath-what-avarice-ambition/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“The Phoenix rises in the absence or need of witness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/the-phoenix-rises-in-the-absence-or-need-of-witness/) Truth Devour ## 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 Mighty wind quotes > [I sang in 'Waiting for Guffman,' and I sang in 'A Mighty Wind.' I can carry a tune, but I don't like that Broadway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-sang-in-waiting-for-guffman-and-i-sang-in-a-mighty-wind-i-can-carry/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [“And the priestess spoke again and said: “Speak to us of Reason and Passion“ And he answered saying: Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gibran-khalil-gibran/and-the-priestess-spoke-again-and-said-speak-to-us-of-reason-and/) [Gibran Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gibran-khalil-gibran/) > [Bob Dylan's one of the greatest blues singers of the western world; ancient art, on-the-spot improvisation, mind quickness, endless variation, classical formulae, prophetic vision,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/bob-dylan-s-one-of-the-greatest-blues-singers-of-the-western-world/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [I learned how to play mandolin for 'A Mighty Wind!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-learned-how-to-play-mandolin-for-a-mighty-wind/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [“Through Rohan over fen and field where the long grass grows The West Wind goes walking, and about the walls it goes. What news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/through-rohan-over-fen-and-field-where-the-long-grass-grows-the-west/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [As a kid, I really did want to hang out with the grownups, so it was hanging out with the hippest grownups in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/as-a-kid-i-really-did-want-to-hang-out-with-the-grownups-so-it-was/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [To do then now would be retro. To do then then was very now-tro, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/to-do-then-now-would-be-retro-to-do-then-then-was-very-now-tro-if-you/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [Let the Spirit be lacking, and there may be wisdom of words, but not the wisdom of God; the powers of oratory, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-tappan-pierson/let-the-spirit-be-lacking-and-there-may-be-wisdom-of-words-but-not/) [Arthur Tappan Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-tappan-pierson/) > [A mighty wind of resolution sets in strong upon him and freshens the whole atmosphere of his soul, sweeping down before it the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martineau/a-mighty-wind-of-resolution-sets-in-strong-upon-him-and-freshens-the/) [James Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martineau/) > [ I met \[ Samuel L. Jackson \] for the first time on The Today Show. He came out of an elevator. I was promoting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-met-samuel-l-jackson-for-the-first-time-on-the-today-show-he-came/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [“What news from the North, O mighty wind, do you bring to me today? What news of Boromir the Bold? For he is long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/what-news-from-the-north-o-mighty-wind-do-you-bring-to-me-today-what/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [Clothes have become too important and films are saturated with fashion. So you find yourself wearing designer clothes that aren't relevant to your character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/clothes-have-become-too-important-and-films-are-saturated-with/) [Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/) > [I love 'A Mighty Wind.' Even though it's not a funny movie, I think that's kind of beautiful and sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/i-love-a-mighty-wind-even-though-it-s-not-a-funny-movie-i-think-that/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [“Sometimes standing for something is simply not enough…Espeacially when life blows you a mighty wind inwhich knocks you off of your feet or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-barr/sometimes-standing-for-something-is-simply-not-enough-espeacially/) Tamika Barr > [“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the eartha — 2   \* and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-beginning-when-god-created-the-heavens-and-the-eartha-2-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 21 Mighty wind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mighty-wind/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against your passion and your appetite. Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul, that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody. But how shall I, unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers of all your elements? Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas. For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction. Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing; And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes. I would have you consider your judgment and your appetite even as you would two loved guests in your house. Surely you would not honour one guest above the other; for he who is more mindful of one loses the love and the faith of both. Among the hills, when you sit in the cool shade of the white poplars, sharing the peace and serenity of distant fields and meadows -- then let your heart say in silence, \"God rests in reason.\" And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky -- then let your heart say in awe, \"God moves in passion.\" And since you are a breath in God's sphere, and a leaf in God's forest, you too should rest in reason and move in passion.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kahlil Gibran" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-upon-which-your-reason-and-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mighty wind" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-upon-which-your-reason-and-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/kahlil-gibran-1330_mighty-wind_your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-up_1385660.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/kahlil-gibran-1330_mighty-wind_your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-up_1385660.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/kahlil-gibran-1330_mighty-wind_your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-up_1385660.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against your…” — 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": "“Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-upon-which-your-reason-and-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/your-soul-is-oftentimes-a-battlefield-upon-which-your-reason-and-your/#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 } } ] } ```