Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Simcha Zissel of Kelm, fully Rabbi imcha Zissel Ziv Broida, aka the Elder of Kelm

Rabbi, Ethics and Morals Teacher, early leader of the Musar Movement, Founder and Director of the Kelm Talmud Torah

"When someone asks you for advice, don’t give an immediate reply. Think over your response for at least five minutes. Before you speak to someone, think first about your goals. Think of how you will say something before you say it."

"When a person focuses on the goals of his life, he is able to overcome the difficulties involved. When one’s focus is on olam haboh [world-to-come], he lives in a state of happiness even though he experiences many inconveniences along his relatively short trip."

"Man wants to achieve greatness overnight, and he wants to sleep well that night too."

"The challenge of tefillah is that we overcome our natural inclinations and thoughts, leaving behind all concerns of this world. [paraphrase]"

"A truly happy person does not allow his happiness to be dependent on any external factor over which he may not have control."

"Envy is irrational. When you are burning with envy, the person you are envious of is not affected. If he has a knowledge, he remains knowledgeable. If he has wealth, he remains wealthy. The envious person just destroys himself. The more he complains about someone’s good fortune, the more he harms himself."

"It is impossible to quench the thirst for desires by giving into desires. Just the opposite occurs. A person becomes thirstier for more desires. Trying to acquire good traits is entirely different. When you first try to acquire those virtues, you might find it bitter. However, when you master the habit of doing good, you feel great sweetness. Therefore the person who seeks his pleasure in becoming a better person will find true enjoyment in his life."

"Logical and rational thinking shows us that since it is impossible for a person to save himself from the difficulties and misfortunes of life, it makes sense to accept them with a positive attitude. This ensures a person a happy life."

"One’s shoes may look pretty to outsiders, but the person wearing them feels only the pain of those shoes hurting his feet."

"Prayer is an excellent training ground for practicing control of one’s thoughts."

"The biggest obstacle to changing ourselves is discouragement."

"The majority of people who seek physical pleasures and all forms of entertainment are trying to push away the gnawing feeling of emptiness in their lives and the sadness that is an integral part of worldly matters."

"The person who can feel joy because he is not ill or injured lives a happy life."

"The person who desires more physical pleasures will frequently feel frustrated since he always desires more than he can obtain. On the other hand, the person who desires to do good deeds is easily able to find good deeds to engage in."

"The pleasure we feel with what we have does not come only from the thing itself, but also from whom we received it. That is the lessons of the blessings we make. They help us appreciate that the Almighty is the One who has bestowed us with the pleasures of this world - this awareness greatly enhances the value of these pleasures."

"True freedom is freedom of the mind. Only a person whose mind is free from worrying can be considered truly free."

"While boredom can be unpleasant, there are many situations in which a person would feel thrilled if boredom would be his only problem."