A perspective on Joy and Sorrow

This is from Kahil Gibran's book The Prophet

Then a woman said, speak to us of Joy and Sorrow

And he answered:

Your joy is our sorrow unmasked

and the self same 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 holds 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 hallowed 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.