The words of Israel
Real words from the people of Israel, each with a verified source. New quotes are added as each is fact-checked.
โIf I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?โ
ืื ืืื ืื ื ืื, ืื ืื? ืืืฉืื ื ืืขืฆืื, ืื ืื ื? ืืื ืื ืขืืฉืื, ืืืืชื?
Source: Hillel the Elder, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 1:14, Mishnah, c. 200 CE
โWho is wise? He who learns from every person.โ
ืืืืื ืืื? ืืืืื ืืื ืืื
Source: Ben Zoma, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 4:1, Mishnah, c. 200 CE
โWho is rich? He who is happy with his portion.โ
ืืืืื ืขืฉืืจ? ืืฉืื ืืืืงื
Source: Ben Zoma, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 4:1, Mishnah, c. 200 CE
โWho is mighty? He who conquers his own impulse.โ
ืืืืื ืืืืืจ? ืืืืืฉ ืืช ืืฆืจื
Source: Ben Zoma, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 4:1, Mishnah, c. 200 CE
โSay little and do much.โ
ืืืืจ ืืขื ืืขืฉื ืืจืื
Source: Shammai, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 1:15, Mishnah, c. 200 CE
โIn a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.โ
ืืืงืื ืฉืืื ืื ืฉืื, ืืฉืชืื ืืืืืช ืืืฉ
Source: Hillel the Elder, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 2:5, Mishnah, c. 200 CE
โDo not judge your fellow until you have reached his place.โ
ืื ืชืืื ืืช ืืืจื ืขื ืฉืชืืืข ืืืงืืื
Source: Hillel the Elder, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 2:4, Mishnah, c. 200 CE
โThe whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is to have no fear at all.โ
ืื ืืขืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืฆืจ ืืืื, ืืืขืืงืจ ืื ืืคืื ืืื
Source: Attributed to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772โ1810), Hasidic tradition; popularized as a modern Israeli song
โThis too is for the good.โ
ืื ืื ืืืืื
Source: Attributed to Nachum Ish Gamzu, Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 21a
โA little light dispels much darkness.โ
ืืขื ืื ืืืืจ ืืืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืืฉื
Source: Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Tanya (Likutei Amarim), ch. 12 (1797), Hasidic/Chabad tradition