"Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself"

Wisdom, at its core, is not merely knowledge or intelligence, but a quality that embraces humility, emotional depth, and a connection to others. When it grows so proud that it can no longer weep, it loses touch with the essential vulnerability that makes understanding possible. Compassion, empathy, and the ability to be moved by the suffering or joy of oneself and others are vital to true wisdom. To refuse to weep is to refuse to be moved, to stiffen against the currents that shape the human heart, and this rigidity transforms wisdom into mere pretense.

Furthermore, wisdom distorted by excessive gravity pushes out laughter. Laughter is a sign of openness, the recognition of life’s ironies, and the embrace of imperfection. When wisdom becomes so solemn that it cannot laugh, it turns dour and closed, unable to see the playful side of existence or to admit the limits of human knowledge. The capacity to laugh is the ability to forgive and release, to celebrate the absurdities of life, a vital balance to the seriousness of reflection and discernment.

Selfishness also erodes authentic wisdom. When wisdom seeks only itself, guarding its insights jealously or using them purely for self-glorification, it fails in its highest calling. Real wisdom reaches beyond self-interest, yearning to contribute, to guide, and to connect with others. Its purpose becomes impoverished when it exists in isolation, detached from the interconnectedness that defines meaningful understanding.

Therefore, wisdom is not a static possession, but a living quality requiring humility, light-heartedness, and genuine selflessness. Proud wisdom hardens into arrogance; grave wisdom becomes lifeless; selfish wisdom cankerous. Only wisdom that is willing to feel, to laugh, and to serve can truly enrich life and foster the deeper understanding that Gibran espouses.