Quotessence
Home / Authors / Maimonides
Maimonides

Maimonides Quotes

Philosopher

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenEvilExistenceIfsBodyCausesWayDoeFormShouldCertainHumansDivineGivingIndividualKnownMayMindSubjectsWhole

Famous Maimonides Quotes

“The corporeal element in man is a large screen and partition that prevents him from perfectly perceiving abstract ideals; this would be the case even if the corporeal element were as pure and superior as the substance of the spheres ; how much more must this be the case with our dark and opaque body. However great the exertion of our mind may be to comprehend the Divine Being or any of the ideals, we find a screen and partition between God and us.”

IfsMenMindMayBodyWould BeDarkCasesDivinePureElementsIdealsScreensSuperiorsSubstanceAbstractSpheresExertionPartitionOpaque
Book:The Guide for the Perplexed
Create image

“It is possible that the meaning of wisdom in Hebrew indicates aptitude for stratagems and the application of thought in such a way that the stratagems and ruses may be used in achieving either rational or moral virtues, or in achieving skill in a practical art, or in working evil and wickedness.”

WayMayArtUsedEvilMoralVirtueAchieveSkillsPracticalsRationalApplicationWickednessHebrewAptitudeStratagemMoral Virtues
Book:A Maimonides Reader
Create image

“When I have a difficult subject before me - when I find the road narrow, and can see no other way of teaching a well established truth except by pleasing one intelligent man and displeasing ten thousand fools - I prefer to address myself to the one man, and to take no notice whatever of the condemnation of the multitude; I prefer to extricate that intelligent man from his embarrassment and show him the cause of his perplexity, so that he may attain perfection and be at peace.”

MenWayWellsMayShowsCausesDifficultTeachingSubjectsFoolThousandTenPerfectionIntelligentAddressesOne ManMultitudesEmbarrassmentCondemnationIntelligent ManPerplexityDifficult Subjects
Book:The Guide for the Perplexed
Create image

“Anticipate charity by preventing poverty; assist the reduced fellow man, either by a considerable gift or a sum of money or by teaching him a trade or by putting him in the way of business so that he may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity. This is the highest step and summit of charity's golden ladder.”

MenWayGivingMayHandsPoliticsCompassionStepsPovertyTeachingHonestHighestFellowsTradeCharityGoldenAlternativesGenerosityServingLaddersFellow ManSummitAnticipateServing OthersPreventingLivelihood
Author:Maimonides
Create image