A Galilean said, “When the shepherd is angry with his flock, he appoints for its leader a blind bellwether.”

Though it is not incumbent upon thee to complete the work, thou must not therefore cease from pursuing it.  If the work is great, great will be thy reward, and thy Master is faithful in His payments.

There are three crowns:  of the law, the priesthood, and the kingship; but the crown of a good name is greater than them all.

Who gains wisdom?  He who is willing to receive instruction from all sources.  Who is the mighty man?  He who subdueth his temper.  Who is rich?  He who is content with his lot.  Who is deserving of honor?  He who honoreth mankind.

Despise no man and deem nothing impossible; every man hath his hour and everything its place.

Iron breaks stone; fire melts iron; water extinguishes fire; the clouds consume water; the storm dispels clouds; man withstands the storm; fear conquers man; wine banishes fear; sleep overcomes wine, and death is the master of sleep; but “charity,” says Solomon, “saves even from death.”

How canst thou escape sin?  Think of three things:  whence thou comest, whither thou goest, and before whom thou must appear.  The scoffer, the liar, the hypocrite, and the slanderer can have no share in the future world of bliss.  To slander is to commit murder.

Cold water morning and evening is better than all the cosmetics.

The question is asked, “Why is man born with hands clinched, but has his hands wide open in death?” And the answer is:  “On entering the world, man desires to grasp everything; but when leaving it he takes nothing away.”

Two dry logs and one wet; the dry ones kindle the wet.

He who seeks for a faultless brother will have to remain brotherless.

A town which has no school should be abolished.

Jerusalem was destroyed because the instruction of the young was neglected.

He who instructs a child is as if he had created it.

The teachers are the guardians of the State.

Learn first and philosophize afterward.

To what may he be compared who teaches a child?  To one who writes on clean paper; and to what may he be compared who teaches an old man?  To one who writes on blotted paper.

Be eager to acquire knowledge; it does not come to thee by inheritance.

Four dispositions are found among those who sit for instruction, before the wise, and they may be respectively compared to a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, and a sieve; the sponge imbibes all, the funnel receives at one end and discharges at the other, the strainer suffers the wine to pass through, but retains the lees, and the sieve recovers the bran, but retains the fine flour.

To pray loudly is not a necessity of devotion; when we pray we must direct our hearts toward heaven.

Charity is greater than all.

Who gives charity in secret is greater than Moses.