--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They see only their shadows, and their…" description: "\"“They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws.”\" — Khalil Gibran" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/khalil-gibran-286_law_they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-sh_2452976.jpg" --- # They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their… ![“They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws.” quote by Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/khalil-gibran-286_law_they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-sh_2452976.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/khalil-gibran-286_law_they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-sh_2452976.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/khalil-gibran-286_law_they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-sh_2452976.jpg) > ““They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws.”” [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are limited by their perceptions, which become self‑imposed rules. **In simple terms:** Shadows become personal laws. Key Takeaway Challenge limiting beliefs. Themes perception freedom philosophy self‑limitation Mood contemplative inspirational Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - Personal growth - creative thinking - breaking norms Key Concepts Existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What shadows govern your actions? - How can you see beyond them? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated views is hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows/) [Shadows Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows-laws-585189/) [Shadows Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows-shadows-585190/) ## Related quotes > [“What shall i say of these save that they too stand in the sunlight, but with their backs to the sun? They see only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/what-shall-i-say-of-these-save-that-they-too-stand-in-the-sunlight/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Shadows in shadows He watches through dreams Wings black as Africa Body strong as stone Done waiting The ravens call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shadows-in-shadows-he-watches-through-dreams-wings-black-as-africa/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Shadows   The shadows looming in the corners wore colors similar to bruises. No way of knowing when the darkness would end. Heart racing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennae-cecelia/shadows-the-shadows-looming-in-the-corners-wore-colors-similar-to/) [Jennae Cecelia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennae-cecelia/) > [What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/what-shadows-we-are-and-what-shadows-we-pursue/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [About shadows: do we see shadows? Loads of people don't. A camera will notice a shadow, but how many people have got a shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/about-shadows-do-we-see-shadows-loads-of-people-don-t-a-camera-will/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [Men throw huge shadows on the lawn, don't they? Then, all their lives, they try to run to fit the shadows. But the shadows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/men-throw-huge-shadows-on-the-lawn-don-t-they-then-all-their-lives/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [ “Behind everyone, there are at least two shadows. Some have even more. \[...\] The shadows on the ground are like folding fans. Looking at… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/can-xue/behind-everyone-there-are-at-least-two-shadows-some-have-even-more/) [Can Xue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/can-xue/) > [Even in art, there is no light without shadows, and no shadows are cast without some light. Even the shadow of Adolf Hitler is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-frank/even-in-art-there-is-no-light-without-shadows-and-no-shadows-are-cast/) [Hans Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-frank/) > [What shadows we are, what shadows wepursue!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/what-shadows-we-are-what-shadows-wepursue/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [...for human words are like shadows, and shadows are incapable of explaining light and between shadow and light there is the opaque body from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/for-human-words-are-like-shadows-and-shadows-are-incapable-of/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [There are shadows for the shadows of things, as a reflection seen in a mirror of a mirror. We know there are circles within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/there-are-shadows-for-the-shadows-of-things-as-a-reflection-seen-in-a/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“The Shadows this, the Shadows that—I’d asked Charles about them once, when our breaks had overlapped…But Charles said “they” (complete with scare quotes) lurked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-alexander/the-shadows-this-the-shadows-that-i-d-asked-charles-about-them-once/) [Cassie Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-alexander/) > [“Never be disappointed and never lose your hope and fortitude when all that you see around is only shadows. Because if there are shadows, there must also be sources of light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/never-be-disappointed-and-never-lose-your-hope-and-fortitude-when-all/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [Don't make friends with shadows; because shadows cannot smile!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/don-t-make-friends-with-shadows-because-shadows-cannot-smile/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“strike from the shadows, disapear into darkness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/strike-from-the-shadows-disapear-into-darkness/) [derek landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) ## More by Khalil Gibran > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Hate is a dead thing. Who of you would be a tomb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/hate-is-a-dead-thing-who-of-you-would-be-a-tomb/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The truly just is he who feels half guilty of your misdeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-truly-just-is-he-who-feels-half-guilty-of-your-misdeeds/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“follow the steps trust them and yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/follow-the-steps-trust-them-and-yourself/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Beauty is not a need but an ecstasy. It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth, But rather a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/beauty-is-not-a-need-but-an-ecstasy-it-is-not-a-mouth-thirsting-nor/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [I have never agreed with my other self wholly. The truth of the matter seems to lie between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/i-have-never-agreed-with-my-other-self-wholly-the-truth-of-the-matter/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“That which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/that-which-sings-and-contemplates-in-you-is-still-dwelling-within-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/you-pray-in-your-distress-and-in-your-need-would-that-you-might-also/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“The veil that clouds your eyes shall be lifted by the hands that wove it, And the clay that fills your ears shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-veil-that-clouds-your-eyes-shall-be-lifted-by-the-hands-that-wove/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/work-is-love-made-visible-and-if-you-cannot-work-with-love-but-only/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [joy and sorrow are inseparable. . . together they come and when one sits alone with you . . remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/joy-and-sorrow-are-inseparable-together-they-come-and-when-one-sits/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Like the ocean is your god-self; It remains for ever undefiled. And like the ether it lifts but the winged. Even like the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/like-the-ocean-is-your-god-self-it-remains-for-ever-undefiled-and/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) [Explore all 688 Khalil Gibran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## More Law quotes > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) > [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/) [John Dodderidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dodderidge/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laws-undertake-to-punish-only-overt-acts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 16,973 Law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Khalil Gibran" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-shadows-are-their-laws/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Law" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-shadows-are-their-laws/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/khalil-gibran-286_law_they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-sh_2452976.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/khalil-gibran-286_law_they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-sh_2452976.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/khalil-gibran-286_law_they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-sh_2452976.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws.” — Khalil 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": "Khalil Gibran", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“They see only their shadows, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-shadows-are-their-laws/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/they-see-only-their-shadows-and-their-shadows-are-their-laws/#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 } } ] } ```