The house of fortune 
by Gibran Khalil Gibran

My wearied heart bade me farewell and left for the House of Fortune. As he reached that holy
city which the soul had blessed and worshipped, he commenced wondering, for he could not
find what he had always imagined would be there. The city was empty of power, money, and
authority. 

And my heart spoke to the daughter of Love saying, "Oh Love, where can I find Contentment?
I heard that she had come here to join you." And the daughter of Love responded,
"Contentment has already gone to preach her gospel in the city, where greed and corruption
are paramount; we are not in need of her." 

Fortune craves not Contentment, for it is an earthly hope, and its desires are embraced by
union with objects, while Contentment is naught but heartfelt. The eternal soul is never
contented; it ever seeks exaltation. Then my heart looked upon Life of Beauty and said: "Thou
art all knowledge; enlighten me as to the mystery of Woman." And he answered, "Oh human
heart, woman is your own reflection, and whatever you are, she is; wherever you live, she
lives; she is like religion if not interpreted by the ignorant, and like a moon, if not veiled with
clouds, and like a breeze, if not poisoned with impurities." 

And my heart walked toward Knowledge, the daughter of Love and Beauty, and said, "Bestow
upon me wisdom, that I might share it with the people." And she responded, "Say not wisdom,
but rather fortune, for real fortune comes not from outside, but begins in the Holy of Holies of
life. Share of thyself with the people."