Lebanese writer Kahlil Gibran is known for his deeply expressive poetry. Though his 1923 novel “The Prophet” is his most commercially successful work, his poetry remains some of his most-quoted, touching on themes from love and religion to loneliness and sorrow. Here, he encourages us to move toward vulnerability: By opening up and letting others see who we are, we invite the rich connections and deep relationships that make life fulfilling.

George Bernard Shaw, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1925, is most famous for his 1913 comedic play “Pygmalion,” which was later adapted into the 1956 Broadway musical “My Fair Lady." But Shaw’s path to literary success was a long one. He spent his 20s struggling to pay the bills as his first four novels were summarily rejected by every publisher in London. Nine years after resolving to become a writer, he began to gain some traction with his journalism, publishing art criticism and book reviews, but it was only once he began to write for the stage that his career found real momentum. His playwriting earned him both critical and popular acclaim. In his 94 years of life, Shaw certainly came to understand that life is not always easy, but his art is a testament to the fact that it can be delightful.