quotes

"Merciful God, merciful God, powerful God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth. Preserver of kindness for thousands of generations, forgiver of iniquity, willful sin and error, and Who cleanses."  — Exodus 34:6-7

Rabbi Shimon taught: There are three crowns:  The crown of Torah, the crown of Priesthood, and the crown of Royalty.  The crown of a good name surpasses them all."  — Avot 4:17

Shammai taught: "Say little and do much."  — Avot 1:15   Rabbi Natan said, “What does this mean? It teaches that the righteous say little and do much, whereas the wicked say much and do not even a little.”  — Avot 13:3

"Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give."  —Proverbs 25:14

Nittai, of Arbel, taught: "Keep far from an evil neighbor, be not a partner with an evil person..."  — Avot 1:7

"The key is to get to know people and trust them to be who they are. Instead, we trust people to be who we want them to be—and when they’re not, we cry." — Jewish proverb

"Trust, but verify." — Russian proverb

"It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it?" — C.S. Lewis

"The wild things of this earth are not ours to do with as we please. They have been given to us in trust, and we must account for them to the generation which will come after us and audit our accounts." — William T. Hornaday

"Trust is the feeling that makes one man believe in another." — Henry Louis Menchen

quotes

"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." --Devarim 6:4-9

"And how can you achieve such concentration? By recognizing that everything you do is important to God, and is one vital piece of the larger picture of your life." — Menachem Mendel Schneerson

"Peace can also be reached through concentration upon that which is dearest to the heart." — Patanjali

"Discipline and concentration are a matter of being interested." — Tom Kite

"By practicing concentration the mind can be made stable. A stable mind helps in taking right decisions and achieving the desired result." — Rig Veda

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’ "— Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal." — E. Joseph Cossman

"All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas, layin’ in the sun talkin’ ‘bout the things they Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done… But all those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas all ran away and hid from One Little Did." — Shel Silverstein

quotes

“"All of Israel is responsible for one another."” —Shavuot 39a

“Rabbi Eliezer says: "Let other people’s dignity be as precious to you as
your own”." —Pirkei Avot 2:15

Rabbi Akiva would say, "Human beings are beloved because they were created in the image of God. It is an even greater love that this was made know to humanity, as it says, 'and in the image of God were people created.'" -Pirkei Avot 3:14

"If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?" — Rumi

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." — Albert Einstein

"In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you." — Leo Tolstoy

"Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it." — Andy Rooney

"Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others." — Susan Sontag

"You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down." — Charles Chaplin

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation,  because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." — John Wooden

quotes

"Who is rich? He who is happy with what he has." -- Avot 4:1, Ben Zoma

"Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."  --Matthew 5:8

"As the wallet grows, so do the needs." — Yiddish proverb

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"  --Hebrews 13:5

 “People where you live," the little prince said, “grow five thousand roses in one
garden... yet they don’t find what they’re looking for...” “They don’t find it,” I answered. “And yet what they’re looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water...” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." — Albert Einstein

"It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it." — Lou Holtz

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." — Leonardo da Vinci

"There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth." — Leo Tolstoy

"Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires."  — Lao Tzu

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." — Kahlil Gibran

quotes

"Give, and it will be given to you; they will return to your lap a beautiful measure pressed, crammed full and overflowing. For with the measure that you use to measure, it will be measured to you."-- Mashiach Yeshua, Luke 6:38, DHE

Hillel stated: "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah. The rest is the explanation; go and learn."

"Therefore, a man should take care to be generous according to his means, to be magnanimous where magnanimity is called for…weighing all in the scales of Torah." -- The Ways of the Tzaddikim, The Gate of Miserliness, page 323

"True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar, it comes to see that
an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring." — Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness." — Mother Theresa

"Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It’s the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too."
— Frederick Buechner

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in." — Morrie Schwartz

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive." — Dalai Lama XIV

"Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it’s beauty." — Albert Einstein

quotes

Rabbi Tarfon said: "The day is short, the task is great, the laborers are lazy, the wage is abundant and the master is urgent." -- Avot 2:20

He [Rabbi Tarfon]used to say: "It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task. Yet, you are not free to desist from it." -- Avot 2:21

Rabbi Akiva said: "All is foreseen, but freedom of choice is given. The world is judged in goodness, yet all is proportioned to one's work." --  Avot 3:19

Rabbi Elazar of Bartota said: "Render to Him that which is his, for you and all that you have are His, as David said (I Chronicles 29:14): 'For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given you.' " -- Avot 3:8

He [Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa] used to say: "He whose works exceed his wisdom, his wisdom endures; but he whose wisdom exceeds his works, his wisdom will not endure." -- Avot 3:12

Ben Azzai said: "Be eager to fulfill the smallest duty and flee from transgression; for one duty induces another and one transgression induces another transgression." -- Avot 4:2

"Hashem praises a poor person who triumphs over his Evil Nature and returns an object." -- Pesachim 113a

"It's a question of discipline," the little prince told me later on. "When you've finished washing and dressing each morning, you must tend your planet." -- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, 1943, translated from French by Richard Howard

"It is impossible for obstacles not to come, but how terrible for the man through whom they come! He would be better to have a millstone hung around his neck and be cast into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble." -- Mashiach Yeshua, Luke 17:2, DHE

"If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!" -- Mishlei 24:10

What you hate, do not do to your friend. ~ Shabbos 31a

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the LORD. ~ Vayikra 19:18

Hillel and Shammai received the Torah from them. Hillel said: Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures and bringing them close to the Torah. ~ Avot 1:12

If you have done your neighbor a little wrong, let it be in your eyes great; if you have done him much good, let it be in your eyes little; if he has done you a little good, let it be in your eyes great; if he has done you a great wrong, let it be in your eyes little.  ~ Avot 1:6, Avot de Rabbi Nathan ch 41

He who says, 'What is mine is yours and what is yours is thine own'—he is a saintly man. ~ Avot 5:13

A love without rebuke is no real love. ~ Bereishit Rabbah, ch 54, section 3

The highest form of wisdom is kindness. ~ Berachot 17a

Shimon the Righteous was one of the last survivors of the Great Assembly.  He used to say: 'On three things the world is sustained: on the Torah, on the (Temple) service, and on deeds of loving kindness.'  ~ Avot 1:2

The world is built with chesed (loving-kindness).  ~Tehillim 89:3

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ~ Galatians 6:9

quotes

"What you hate, do not do to your friend." -- Shabbos 31a

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." -- Vayikra 19:18

"Hillel and Shammai received the Torah from them. Hillel said: 'Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures and bringing them close to the Torah.' " -- Avot 1:12

"If you have done your neighbor a little wrong, let it be in your eyes great; if you have done him much good, let it be in your eyes little; if he has done you a little good, let it be in your eyes great; if he has done you a great wrong, let it be in your eyes little." -- Avot 1:6, Avot de Rabbi Nathan ch 41

"He who says, 'What is mine is yours and what is yours is thine own'—he is a saintly man." -- Avot 5:13

"A love without rebuke is no real love." -- Bereishit Rabbah, ch 54, section 3

"The highest form of wisdom is kindness." -- Berachot 17a

Shimon the Righteous was one of the last survivors of the Great Assembly. He used to say: "On three things the world is sustained: on the Torah, on the (Temple) service, and on deeds of loving kindness." -- Avot 1:2

"The world is built with chesed (loving-kindness)." -- Tehillim 89:3

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -- Galatians 6:9

What you hate, do not do to your friend. ~ Shabbos 31a

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the LORD. ~ Vayikra 19:18

Hillel and Shammai received the Torah from them. Hillel said: Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures and bringing them close to the Torah. ~ Avot 1:12

If you have done your neighbor a little wrong, let it be in your eyes great; if you have done him much good, let it be in your eyes little; if he has done you a little good, let it be in your eyes great; if he has done you a great wrong, let it be in your eyes little.  ~ Avot 1:6, Avot de Rabbi Nathan ch 41

He who says, 'What is mine is yours and what is yours is thine own'—he is a saintly man. ~ Avot 5:13

A love without rebuke is no real love. ~ Bereishit Rabbah, ch 54, section 3

The highest form of wisdom is kindness. ~ Berachot 17a

Shimon the Righteous was one of the last survivors of the Great Assembly.  He used to say: 'On three things the world is sustained: on the Torah, on the (Temple) service, and on deeds of loving kindness.'  ~ Avot 1:2

The world is built with chesed (loving-kindness).  ~Tehillim 89:3

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ~ Galatians 6:9

quotes

"When one engages in business or in an occupation to earn money, one should not be motivated by desire for gain alone, but by the necessity of supplying his basic requirements, such as food, drink, habitation, and marriage." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Love, pg 119

"One should not eat and drink as much as he wishes, but only as much as is necessary to insure the well-being of his body and no more." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Love, pg 121

"The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry." -- Mishlei 13:25

"Who is mighty? He who subdues his passions, as it is written (Mishlei 16:32) 'One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.' " -- Avot 4:1

Rabbi Eleazar ha-Kappar used to say: "Jealousy, lust, and ambition remove man from the world." -- Avot 4:28

"If a person who withholds himself from wine is called a sinner, how much more so is one a sinner who withdraws from all of life's enjoyments." -- Taanit 11a, 11b

"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." -- Mishlei 16:32

"If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please." -- Epictetus

"It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep." -- Mishlei 25:27

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." -- Galatians 5:22-23

quotes

"Therefore, a man should take care to be generous according to his means, to be magnanimous where magnanimity is called for…weighing all in the scales of Torah." -- The Ways of the Tzaddikim, The Gate of Miserliness, page 323

"People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God's blessing on the one who is willing to sell." -- Mishlei 11:26

"Give, and it will be given to you; they will return to your lap a beautiful measure pressed, crammed full and overflowing. For with the measure that you use to measure, it will be measured to you."-- Mashiach Yeshua, Luke 6:38, DHE

"He who wants to give and also that others should give—he is a saintly man." -- Avot 5:16

"Whosoever possesses these three qualities belongs to the disciples of Abraham our father: a generous eye, a humble spirit, and a meek soul." -- Avot 5:22

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." -- Mishlei 11:24

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." -- Acts 20:35

"If one is measuring out wine, oil or the like, he must not be over-exact, but give a little more." -- Bava Basra 88b

"The ideal is to give correctly to a deserving poor person, with a pleasant expression." -- The Ways of the Tzaddikim, the Gate of Magnanimity, page 313

"For in the place where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -- Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 6:21, DHE

quotes

"True zeal consists of one's heart being alert, his mind being wakeful, and his limbs being light for the performance of his labor, but not in overhastiness in any matter." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 293

"Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey." -- Bereishit 22:3

"Rabbi Yehudah be Tema said: Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven." -- Avot 5:20

"When a man frees his heart of all other thoughts that reside in it and seizes upon one thought, then he will undoubtedly be zealous in its execution." --The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 283

"You must know that the trait of zeal is the foundation of all the traits, for one cannot constantly be learning. One must eat, drink, sleep , and attend to his other needs." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 285

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said: "Zeal leads to cleanliness, cleanliness to separation, separation to purity, purity to holiness, holiness to humility, humility to fear of sin, fear of sin to saintliness, saintliness to the holy spirit, the holy spirit to the revival of the dead, and the revival of the dead to Eliyahu the prophet of blessed memory." -- Yerushalmi Shekalim 3:3, Sotah 49a, Avodah Zarah 20b

"If a poor man comes to your house to ask for bread, do not say, ' I cannot go to bring bread,' but go with zeal to bring it." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 287

"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." -- Winston Churchill

"The zealous advance themselves towards the doing of mitzvot." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 285

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." -- Kohelet 9:10

"Do not say, 'When I will be free I will learn'; maybe you will not be free." -- Avot 2:4

quotes

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." -- Shemot 20:12

"And one should not study Torah or do any good deed for the sake of honor, but only for the sake of the Creator, Blessed be He, and, ultimately, the honor will come." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Love, pg 119

Rabbi Eliezer said: "Let the honor of your fellow be as dear to you as your own." -- Avot 2:15

Rabbi Elazar of Modiim said: "If a man profanes things which are sacred, and offends the holidays and puts his fellow to shame publicly, and makes void the covenant of Abraham our father, and teaches meanings in the Torah which are not according to Halachah, even though he has a knowledge of the Torah and good works, he has no share in the world to come." -- Avot 3:15

Ben Zoma said: "Who is wise? He who learns from all men, as it is written (Tehillim 119:99) 'I have gained understanding from all my teachers.'"  -- Avot 4:1

"Who is honored? He that honors his fellow men as it is written (I Shmuel 2:30) 'For those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be treated with contempt.' " -- Avot 4:1

Rabbi Yochanan ben Baroka said: "Whoever profanes the name of Heaven in secret will pay the penalty in public, whether it be done accidentally or intentionally." -- Avot 4:5

"So then, whatever you want sons of men to do to you, do the same to them, for this is the Torah and the Prophets." -- Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 7:12, DHE

"The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old." ~Mishlei 20:29

"The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame." ~ Mishlei 3:35

quotes

"The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad." -- Tehillim 118:24

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows." -- James 1:17

"They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." -- Lamentations 3:23

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise You forever." -- Tehillim 30:11-12

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." -- Romans 8:28

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." -- Mishlei 13:12

"At midnight I rise to give You thanks for your righteous laws." -- Tehillim 119.62

"I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise Your name, and the upright will live in your presence." --Tehillim 140:12-13

So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? -- Kohelet 3:22

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will… -- I Thessalonians 5:18

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. -- Ephesians 1:16

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -- Philippians 4.6

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. -- Devarim 8:10

from the mussar masters

“Silence is a protective fence for wisdom.”—Avot 3:17

“And you shall honor it [Shabbat] by abstaining from your affairs, by refraining from your wants, and by not engaging in [prohibited] speech.” —Isaiah 58:13

Rabbi Shammai said: “Say little and do much, and receive all men with a cheerful countenance.” —Avot 1:15

 “For the whole of the Torah is summed up in this one sentence : 'Love your neighbor as yourself'; but if you go on snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other!" —Galatians 5:13-15

"By the blessing of the upright, a city is raised up; but the words of the wicked tear it down. He who belittles another lacks good sense, whereas a person of discernment stays silent." —Proverbs 11:11-12

"Anyone who thinks he is religiously observant but does not control his tongue is deceiving himself, and his observance counts for nothing." —James 1:26

"Don't speak impulsively—don't be in a hurry to give voice to your words before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; so let your words be few." —Ecclesiastes 5 :1-2

“Evil talk (lashon hara) is so grievous a sin because it kills three people: the one who speaks evil, the one who listens to evil talk, and the one who is being slandered.” —Talmud, Erechin 15b

“When a person insults someone else, it is his own defects that he is revealing.” —Talmud, Kiddushin 70a

“In an abundance of words, offense will not be lacking, but one who restrains his lips is wise.” —Proverbs 10:19

from the mussar masters

For who in the skies can be compared to G-d?  Who is like G-d among the heavenly beings? -- Tehillim 89:7

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  -- Mishlei 11:2

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  -- Mishlei 16:18

Be lowly in spirit before everyone.  -- Avos 4:10

Wherever you find God's greatness, there you will find His humility -- b. Megilla 31a

The greatest among you shall be to you as a servant. Everyone who lifts himself up will be brought low, but everyone who lowers himself will be lifted up.  --  Matthew 23:11-12, DHE

A true genius admits that he/she knows nothing. -- Albert Einstein

True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. -- Timothy Keller

Be careful not to mistake insecurity and inadequacy for humility! Humility has nothing to do with the insecure and inadequate! Just like arrogance has nothing to do with greatness! -- C. Joybell C.

Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you. -- Andrew Murray

The humble person is open to being corrected, whereas the arrogant is clearly closed to it. Proud people are supremely confident in their own opinions and insights. Filled as they are with their own views, the arrogant lack the capacity to see another view. -- Thomas Dubay

It stands to reason that anyone who learns to live well will die well. The skills are the same: being present in the moment, and humble, and brave, and keeping a sense of humor. -- Victoria Moran

Humility is that freedom from our self which enables us to be in positions in which we have neither recognition nor importance, neither power nor visibility, and even experience deprivation..and knowing that we are not in the center of the universe, not even in the center of our own private universe. -- David F. Wells

from the mussar masters

“And he called out to the people, saying to them,'Listen and understand! It is not what enters the mouth that makes the person tamei, but what comes out from the mouth—that makes the person tamei.'” --Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 15:10-11, DHE

Rabbi Samuel bar Nachman said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: “Here the Yetzer seduces you, there the Yetzer betrays you.” --Talmud

Nittai the Arbelite said: Keep thee far from an evil neighbor and associate not with the wicked; and abandon not belief in retribution. --Avot 1:7

“The greater a person is, the greater is the force of his temptation.” --Talmud, Succah 52a

Hasten to do even the slightest mitzvah, and flee from all sin. Because one mitzvah will lead to another, and one sin will lead to another.” --Avot 4:2

“You have given Your people beginnings of new months, which are time of forgiveness for all their transgressions.” – Rosh Chodesh Mussaf service

“One who walks with the wise will grow wise, but the companion of fools will be broken.” --Proverbs 13:20

Rabbi Eleazar ha-Kappar used to say: “Jealousy, lust, and ambition remove man from the world.” – Avot 4:28

“Reflect upon three things and you will not come within the power of sin: Know what is above you --a seeing eye, a hearing ear, and all your deeds recorded in a book.” --Avot 2:1

 Don't quench the Spirit, don't despise inspired messages. But do test everything – hold onto what is good but keep away from every form of evil.” --1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

“What G-d wants is that you be holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to manage his sexual impulses in a holy and honorable manner, without giving in to lustful desires...” --1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

“Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires; and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness.” --Romans 6:13

from the mussar masters

Simeon ben Shetah said: "Examine the witnesses diligently and be cautious in thy words lest through them they learn to falsify." --Avot 1:9

“You shall be sincere with the L-d your G-d.” --Deuteronomy 18:13

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from deceitful speech.” --Psalms 34:14

“Accustom your tongue to say, 'I do not know.'” --Talmud, Berachos 4a

“Correct yourself first, and then you can correct others.” --Talmud, Bava Metzia 107b

“Keep your distance from falsehood.” --Exodus 23:7

“Foolishness is joy to one who lacks [an understanding] heart, but a man of understanding [will rejoice] when he walks uprightly.” --Proverbs 15:21

“Do not offer vain testimony against your fellow, to denar yourself with your lips. Do not say,'As he has done for me, so will I do for him; I will reward the man according to his acts.'” --Proverbs 24:28

“One who deceives his fellow through flattery is spreading a net for his own footsteps.” --Proverbs 29:5

from the mussar masters

“But I tell you that whoever is enraged against his brother baselessly is liable to a beit din, and whoever says to his brother, “reka” is liable to a sanhedrin, and whoever calls him “naval” is made liable to the fire of Geihinnom.” --Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 5:22, DHE 

“The world is a very narrow bridge. They key to crossing is to not be afraid.” --Rabbi Nachman ben Simcha of Bratslav

“It is intelligent of a person to be slow to anger, and his splendor to ignore an offense.” --Proverbs 19:11

 “If you have been abused, remain aloof; and if you have thoughts [of responding in kind], put your hand to your mouth; for the squeezing of milk produces butter; the squeezing of the nose produces blood; and the squeezing of anger produces strife.” --Proverbs 30:32

 “A gentle reply turns away wrath, but a galling word incites anger.” --Proverbs 15:1

“Into His hand I shall entrust my spirit, when I go to sleep – and I shall awaken. With my spirit shall my body remain. Hashem is with me, I shall not fear.” – Siddur, Morning Blessings

 “For G-d alone, wait silently, my soul, because my hope is from Him. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation; my Stronghold, I shall not falter.” --Psalms 62: 6-7

“Hashem is my shepherd, I shall not lack. In lush meadows He lays me down, beside tranquil waters He leads me. He restores my soul...Though I walk in the valley overshadowed by death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. --Psalm 23:1-3

 “Hashem is my light and my salvation, who shall I fear? Hashem is my life's strength, whom shall I dread?” --Psalm 27:1

 “From the straits did I call upon G-d; G-d answered me with expansiveness. Hashem is with me, I have no fear; how can man affect me?” --Psalm 118:5-6

 “Hashem will protect you from every evil; He will guard your soul. Hashem will guard your departure and your arrival, from this time and forever.” --Psalms 121:7-8

 “There are four temperaments among men: Easy to provoke and easy to appease--his loss is canceled by his gain. Hard to provoke and hard to appease--his gain is canceled by his loss. Hard to provoke and easy to appease--he is a saintly man. Easy to provoke and hard to appease--he is a wicked man.” --Avot 5:14

from the mussar masters

On Diligence...

“Act while you can: While you have the chance, the means, and the strength.” – Talmud

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” – Ecclesiastes 9:10

“One who is lax in his work is a brother to the master of destruction.” – Proverbs 18:9

“Through indolence the ceiling will cave in, and through inferior handiwork the house will leak.” –  Ecclesiastes 10:18

“I hastened and I did not delay to keep your mitzvot.” – Tehillim 119:60

Be not lazy but rather diligent, for it says: “Thus said the indolent, 'A lion is on the road, a lion [lies in wait] in the streets.'” – Proverbs 26:13

“Don't have contempt for your ability to do good. You make the effort and God does the rest...” – The Bershider Rebbe

“The work is not yours to complete, and [yet] you are not free to abstain from it.” – Avot 2:16

“A person should always be astute when fearing the Eternal; he must be knowledgeable, capable of deducing one thing from the other, and inventive in ways that will please his Creator through whatever means possible.” – Talmud, Berachot 17a

On Enthusiasm...

"True zeal consists of one's heart being alert, his mind being wakeful, and his limbs being light for the performance of his labor, but not in overhastiness in any matter." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 293

"Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey." -- Bereishit 22:3

"Rabbi Yehudah be Tema said: Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven." -- Avot 5:20

"When a man frees his heart of all other thoughts that reside in it and seizes upon one thought, then he will undoubtedly be zealous in its execution." --The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 283

"You must know that the trait of zeal is the foundation of all the traits, for one cannot constantly be learning. One must eat, drink, sleep , and attend to his other needs." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 285

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said: "Zeal leads to cleanliness, cleanliness to separation, separation to purity, purity to holiness, holiness to humility, humility to fear of sin, fear of sin to saintliness, saintliness to the holy spirit, the holy spirit to the revival of the dead, and the revival of the dead to Eliyahu the prophet of blessed memory." -- Yerushalmi Shekalim 3:3, Sotah 49a, Avodah Zarah 20b

"If a poor man comes to your house to ask for bread, do not say, ' I cannot go to bring bread,' but go with zeal to bring it." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 287

"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." -- Winston Churchill

"The zealous advance themselves towards the doing of mitzvot." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 285

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." -- Kohelet 9:10

"Do not say, 'When I will be free I will learn'; maybe you will not be free." -- Avot 2:4

from the mussar masters

“Amen, I say to you, it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Moreover, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of G-d.”  —Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 19:23-24, DHE

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rottenness consume them, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in the heavens, where moths and rottenness do not consume them, and thieves do not break in and steal." 

—Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 6:19-21, DHE

Ben Zoma said : "Who is wealthy? One who is happy with his lot.” —Avot 4:1

“The lover of pleasure will be a man who lacks; the lover of wine and oil will not grow rich.” —Proverbs 21:17

"Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the disciples of our forefather Abraham: … a good eye [generosity], a humble spirit [humility], and a modest soul [frugality]." —Avot 5:19

 “A desirable treasure and oil endures in the abode of the wise, but the fool of a man swallows it up.” —Proverbs 21:20

 On taking frugality to an extreme, it is said: “In the future world, a man will have to give an accounting for every good thing his eyes saw, but of which he did not eat.” —Talmud, Kiddushin 4:12

“It is forbidden to cause the oil in a lamp to burn too quickly, thus wasting fuel.” —Talmud, Shabbat 67b

from the mussar masters

Rabbi Judah the Prince said: "Which is the right course that a man should choose for himself? That which is an honor to him and elicits honor from his fellow men." --Avot 2:1

Rabbi Jose said: “Let the property of your fellow man be as dear to you as your own.” --Avot 2:17

“But if three have eaten at one table and have spoken over it words of the Torah, it is as if they had eaten from the table of G-d, for it is written (Ezekiel 41.22) 'He said to me, 'This is the table which is before Hashem.'” --Avot 3:4

“A person may tend to deliberate whether he should or should not give tzedakah (charity). That is why the Torah exhorts, 'Do not close your hand to the poor.'” --Rashi, Deuteronomy 15:7

“I constantly place the presence of G-d before my eyes” (Psalms 16:8). This is a fundamental rule in Torah and behavior of the righteous who walk in the path of G-d. --Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 1:1

“Judge every person favorably.” – Avot 1:6

 “A person should be humble and as flexible as Hillel, rather than as stern and strict as Shammai.” --Talmud, Shabbos 30b