The deeper sorrow carves into you, the more joy you can hold.

Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet (1923), On Joy and Sorrow

What it means

The cup that holds wine was burned in the kiln; the lute was hollowed with knives. Sorrow makes room. Your grief is making space for future joy.

The source

"The deeper sorrow carves into you, the more joy you can hold." Kahlil Gibran said it in The Prophet (1923), On Joy and Sorrow. Written in English: The Prophet, 1923.

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."

Original English (The Prophet, 1923), The Prophet (1923), On Joy and Sorrow. Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931). Lebanese-American poet and painter. The Prophet (1923), written in English, is a set of short sermons on love, work, pain and freedom.

Questions

What does "The deeper sorrow carves into you, the more joy you can hold." mean?: The cup that holds wine was burned in the kiln; the lute was hollowed with knives. Sorrow makes room. Your grief is making space for future joy.
Who said "The deeper sorrow carves into you, the more joy you can hold."?: Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931). Source: The Prophet (1923), On Joy and Sorrow.
What is the original wording?: The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain (Original English (The Prophet, 1923)). Written in English: The Prophet, 1923.
Is "The deeper sorrow carves into you, the more joy you can hold." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"The deeper sorrow carves into you, the more joy you can hold." (Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet (1923), On Joy and Sorrow, trans. Original English (The Prophet, 1923)). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/the-deeper-sorrow-carves-into-you-the-more