| On Joy & Sorrow | |
| Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow." | |
| And he answered: | |
| Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. | |
| And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. | |
| And how else can it be? | |
| The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. | |
| Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? | |
| And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? | |
| When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. | |
| When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. | |
| Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater." | |
| But I say unto you, they are inseparable. | |
| Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. | |
| Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy. | |
| Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced. | |
| When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall. |