Great Throughts Treasury

"To be a Jew is to affirm the world without being enslaved by it; to be a part of civilization and to go beyond it; to conquer space and to sanctify time. Judaism is the art of surpassing civilization, sanctification of time, sanctification of history. Civilization is on trial. Its future will depend upon how much of the Sabbath will penetrate its spirit."

"To forget that love is the purpose of all mitsvot [good deeds, duties] is to vitiate their meaning."

"Ultimately, then, the goal of religious life is quality rather than quantity, not only what is done, but how it is done."

"We must continue to perform the sacred deeds even though we may be compelled to bribe the self with human incentives. Purity of motivation is the goal; constancy of action is the way… The way to purify the self is to avoid dwelling upon the self and to concentrate upon the task."

"Wisdom is beyond our reach. We are unable to attain insight into the ultimate meaning and purpose of things. Man does not know the thoughts of his own mind nor is he able to understand the meaning of his own dreams."

"Self-respect is the root of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself."