--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you work you are a flute through…" description: "\"When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/khalil-gibran-286_dumb_when-you-work-you-are-a-flute-through-wh_775412.jpg" --- # When you work you are a flute through whose heart the… ![“When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?” quote by Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/khalil-gibran-286_dumb_when-you-work-you-are-a-flute-through-wh_775412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/khalil-gibran-286_dumb_when-you-work-you-are-a-flute-through-wh_775412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/khalil-gibran-286_dumb_when-you-work-you-are-a-flute-through-wh_775412.jpg) > “When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?” [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. Work should be an expressive, harmonious act, not a silent, passive existence. **In simple terms:** Work is music, not a mute reed. Key Takeaway Engage fully in your work. Themes creativity purpose expression Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - career - art - team projects Key Concepts artistic metaphor work ethic Questions to Reflect On - Are you allowing your work to sing? - How can you turn routine into music? A Different Perspective Being silent stifles contribution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Flute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flute/) [Flute Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flute-heart-4012158/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-reed-5984624/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Sings Unison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sings-unison-1155855/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Unison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unison/) [Whispering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whispering/) [Work Flute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-flute-4012157/) ## Related quotes > [“When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/when-you-work-you-are-a-flute-through-whose-heart-the-whispering-of-2/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Which of you would be silent - when all else sings together in unison?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/which-of-you-would-be-silent-when-all-else-sings-together-in-unison/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [An individual voice can be heard in a choir that otherwise sings in unison. This is something that is not excused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahar-ben-jelloun/an-individual-voice-can-be-heard-in-a-choir-that-otherwise-sings-in/) [Tahar Ben Jelloun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahar-ben-jelloun/) > [“Am I a harp that the hand of the mighty may touch me, or a flute that his breath may pass through me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/am-i-a-harp-that-the-hand-of-the-mighty-may-touch-me-or-a-flute-that-2/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Life is like a flute. It may have many holes and emptiness but if you work on it carefully, it can play magical melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-flute-it-may-have-many-holes-and-emptiness-but-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me it's the instrument. 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My mom always definitely kept me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-varner/i-took-lessons-for-about-everything-you-could-imagine-gymnastics-to/) [Elle Varner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-varner/) > [The flute is not an instrument that has a good moral effect - it is too exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-flute-is-not-an-instrument-that-has-a-good-moral-effect-it-is-too/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I studied trumpet for almost 15 years and was performing with a professional concert marching band in parades and rodeos. I was headed back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-carlos-nakai/i-studied-trumpet-for-almost-15-years-and-was-performing-with-a/) [R. Carlos Nakai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-carlos-nakai/) > [“The Reed Flute's Song Listen to the story told by the reed, of being separated. "Since I was cut from the reedbed, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reed-flute-s-song-listen-to-the-story-told-by-the-reed-of-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The quickest way to unlock your talent is to take the flute out of the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-galway/the-quickest-way-to-unlock-your-talent-is-to-take-the-flute-out-of/) [James Galway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-galway/) > [A flute with no holes is not a flute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/a-flute-with-no-holes-is-not-a-flute/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [We decided to do some of Merle's things with modern instrumentation. We used a flute, a bass clarinet, a trumpet, a clarinet, drums, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-ernie-ford/we-decided-to-do-some-of-merle-s-things-with-modern-instrumentation/) [Tennessee Ernie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-ernie-ford/) ## 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. 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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 Dumb quotes > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“War is not nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/war-is-not-nice/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [I love comedy. I love the absurdity of it. I love the kind of intelligence that's required to be dumb in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/i-love-comedy-i-love-the-absurdity-of-it-i-love-the-kind-of/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I'm a meathead. I can't help it, man. You've got smart people and you've got dumb people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-m-a-meathead-i-can-t-help-it-man-you-ve-got-smart-people-and-you-ve/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. 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