Do not imagine that these most difficult problems can be thoroughly understood by any one of us. Maimonides More Quotes by Maimonides More Quotes From Maimonides The true work of God is all good, since it is existence. Maimonides existence For the elements have the property of moving back to their place in a straight line, but they have no properties which would cause them to remain where they are, or to move otherwise than in a straight line. The rectilinear motions of these four elements when returning to their original place are of two kinds, either centrifugal, viz., the motion of the air and the fire; or centripedal, viz., the motion of the earth, and the water; and when the elements have reached their original place, they remain at rest. Maimonides wisetwomoving The Prophets even express their surprise that God should take notice of man, who is too little and too unimportant to be worthy of the attention of the Creator; how, then, should other living creatures be considered as proper objects for Divine Providence! Maimonides littlesattentionmen All this is applicable to the intellectual faculties of man. There is a considerable difference between one person and another as regards these faculties, as is well known to philosophers. Maimonides differencesintellectualmen The error of the ignorant goes so far as to say that God's power is insufficient, because he has given to this Universe the properties which they imagine cause these great evils, and which do not help all evil-disposed persons to obtain the evil which they seek, and to bring their evil souls to the aim of their desires, though these, as we have shown, are really without limit. Maimonides errorssoulevil In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction. Maimonides destructiondivinedivine-wisdom All forces that reside in the body are angels. Maimonides forceangelbody Astrology is a disease, not a science... It is a tree under the shadow of which all sorts of superstitions thrive. ... Only fools and charlatans lend value to it. Maimonides astrologytreescience Further, there are things of which the mind understands one part, but remains ignorant of the other; and when man is able to comprehend certain things, it does not follow that he must be able to comprehend everything. Maimonides ignorantmindmen The first kind of evil is that which is caused to man by the circumstance that he is subject to genesis and destruction, or that he possesses a body. Maimonides bodyevilmen He who thinks he can have flesh and bones without being subject to any external influence, or any accidents of matter, unconsciously wishes to reconcile two opposites, viz., to be at the same time subject and not subject to change. If man were never subject to change there could be no generation; there would be one single being, but no individuals forming a species. Maimonides oppositesmenthinking I find it expressed in various passages of Scripture that the fact that God knows things while in a state of possibility, when their existence belongs to the future, does not change the nature of the possible in any way; that nature remains unchanged; and the knowledge of the realisation of one of several possibilities does not yet effect that realisation. This is likewise one of the fundamental principles of the Law of Moses concerning which there is no doubt nor any dispute. Maimonides principlesdoubtlaw For it is said, "You shall strengthen the stranger and the dweller in your midst and live with him," that is to say, strengthen him until he needs no longer fall upon the mercy of the community or be in need. Maimonides communityfallneeds You will certainly not doubt the necessity of studying astronomy and physics, if you are desirous of comprehending the relation between the world and Providence as it is in reality, and not according to imagination. Maimonides astrologyimaginationreality Astrology is a disease, not a science. Maimonides astrologydisease Management [ Providence ], knowledge, and intention are not the same when ascribed to us and when ascribed to God. Maimonides intentionprovidencemanagement Know that the difficulties which lead to confusion in the question what is the purpose of the Universe or of any of its parts, arise from two causes: first, man has an erroneous idea of himself, and believes that the whole world exists only for his sake; secondly, he is ignorant both about the nature of the sublunary world, and about the Creator's intention to give existence to all beings whose existence is possible, because existence is undoubtedly good. Maimonides menbelieveideas Those who grieve find comfort in weeping and in arousing their sorrow until the body is too tired to bear the inner emotions. Maimonides remembrancetiredgrieving In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction, and without destruction of the individual members of the species the species themselves would not exist permanently. Thus the true kindness, and beneficence, and goodness of God is clear. Maimonides individualdivine-wisdomkindness For that which is without a beginning, a final cause need not be sought. Maimonides finalscausesneeds
