PEARLS OF WISDOM (3) (TALMUD QUOTES)

Rabbi Simlai said, "Six hundred and thirteen commandments were given toMoses, 365 negative commandments, answering to the number of the days ofthe year, and 248 positive commandments, answering to the number of aman's members. Then David came and reduced them to eleven [Psalm 15].Then came Isaiah, and reduced them to six [Isaiah 63.15]. Then cameMicah, and reduced them to three [Micah 6.8]. Then Isaiah came again, andreduced them to two, as it is said, 'Keep ye judgment and dorighteousness.' Then came Amos, and reduced them to one, as it is said,'Seek me and live.' Or one may say, then came Habakkuk [2.4], and reducedthem to one, as it is said, 'The righteous shall live by his faith.'"

Makkot 23b-24a

Him who humbles himself, God exalts; him who exalts himself, God humbles;from him who searches for greatness, greatness flies; him who flies fromgreatness, greatness searches out: with him who is importunate withcircumstances, circumstance is importunate; by him who gives way tocircumstance, circumstance stands.

Erubin 13b

Happy are the righteous! Not only do they acquire merit, but they bestowmerit upon their children and children's children to the end of allgenerations, for Aaron had several sons who deserved to be burned likeNadab and Abihu, but the merit of their father helped them. Woe unto thewicked! Not alone that they render themselves guilty, but they bestowguilt upon their children and children's children unto the end of allgenerations. Many sons did Canaan have, who were worthy to be ordainedlike Tabi, the slave of Rabbi Gamaliel, but the guilt of their ancestorcaused them [to lose their chance].

Yoma 87a

And you shall love the Lord"--namely, you shall make the Lord beloved.

Yoma 86

Greater is he who acts from love than he who acts from fear.

Sota 31a

TALMUD QUOTES (2)

-A legal decision depends not on the teacher's age, but on the force of his argument.

-A tree in the desert is still a tree.

-Better an ounce from the ground than a pound from the roof.

-Breed not a savage dog, nor permit a loose stairway.

-Do not attempt to confute a lion after he's dead.

-Don't use the conduct of a fool as a precedent.

-Doubt cannot override a certainty.

-He who promiseth runs in debt.

-He who sacrifices a whole offering shall be rewarded for a whole offering; he who offers a burnt-offering shall have the reward of a burnt-offering; but he who offers humility to God and man shall be rewarded with a reward as if he had offered all the sacrifices in the world.

-Into the well which supplies thee with water, cast no stones.

-Iron sharpens iron; scholar, the scholar.

-The world is only saved by the breath of the school children.

-Throw no stones into the well whence you have drunk.

-Underneath the wings of the seraphim are stretched the arms of the divine mercy, ever ready to receive sinners.

-Trust not your own powers till the day of your death.

-Join the company of lions rather than assume the lead among foxes.

-Sheep follow sheep.

-The burden is equal to the horse's strength.

-Let your left hand turn away what your right hands attracts.

-When choosing a wife look down the social scale; when selecting a friend, look upwards.

TALMUD QUOTES

For the sake of peace one may lie, but peace itself should never be a lie.

God said: you must teach, as I taught, without a fee.

He that gives should never remember, he that receives should never forget.

Live well. It is the greatest revenge.

Never expose yourself unnecessarily to danger; a miracle may not save you...and if it does, it will be deducted from your share of luck or merit.

Who can protest and does not, is an accomplice in the act.

Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world.