你可以給他們愛，但別把你的思想也給他們，因為他們有自己的思想；你可以勉強自己變得像他們，但不要想讓他們變得像你，因為生命不會倒退，也不會駐足於昨日……
一個懷裡抱著嬰兒的婦人說，跟我們說說「孩子」吧。於是他說：
你的孩子不是你的，他們是「生命」的子女，是生命自身的渴望。他們經你而生，但非出自於你，他們雖然和你在一起，卻不屬於你。
你可以給他們愛，但別把你的思想也給他們，因為他們有自己的思想；你的房子可以供他們安身，但無法讓他們的靈魂安住，因為他們的靈魂住在明日之屋，那裡你去不了，哪怕是在夢中；你可以勉強自己變得像他們，但不要想讓他們變得像你，因為生命不會倒退，也不會駐足於昨日。
你好比一把弓，孩子是從你身上射出的生命之箭。弓箭手看見無窮路徑上的箭靶，於是祂大力拉彎你這把弓，希望祂的箭能射得又快又遠。
欣然屈服在神的手中吧，因為祂既愛那疾飛的箭，也愛那穩定的弓。
On Children
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,
“Speak to us of Children.” And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
