“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.”
What this quote means
Gibran reminds us that our children are not possessions but gifts from life, with their own paths and purposes. This perspective encourages us to guide them without controlling, to honor their uniqueness, and to love them in a way that sets them free. In our role as parents, we can foster a relationship built on trust and wonder rather than expectation and possession.
How to apply it daily
Practice active listening with your child today by asking open-ended questions and validating their feelings without imposing your own expectations.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Kahlil Gibran?
Our starting point
A poetic, universal first encounter
The Prophet
Its short chapters on love, work, children, and freedom naturally extend the experience of the quotations.
- Level
- Accessible
- Reading time
- 2–3 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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