The higher goal of spiritual living is not to amass a wealth of information, but to face sacred moments. Abraham Joshua Heschel More Quotes by Abraham Joshua Heschel More Quotes From Abraham Joshua Heschel Philosophy may be defined as the art of asking the right question...awareness of the problem outlives all solutions. The answers are questions in disguise, every new answer giving rise to new questions. Abraham Joshua Heschel giving philosophy art Understanding God is not attained by calling into session all arguments for and against Him, in order to debate whether He is a reality or a figment of the mind. God cannot be sensed as a second thought, as an explanation of the origin of the universe. He is either the first and the last, or just another concept. Abraham Joshua Heschel understanding-god atheist reality Faith is something that comes out of the soul. It is not an information that is absorbed but an attitude, existing prior to the formulation of any creed. Abraham Joshua Heschel information soul attitude This is one of the goals of the Jewish way of living: to experience commonplace deeds as spiritual adventures, to feel the hidden love and wisdom in all things. Abraham Joshua Heschel goal spiritual adventure Pagans exalt sacred things, the Prophets extol sacred deeds. Abraham Joshua Heschel sacred-things pagan deeds The man who has not suffered - what does he know anyway? Abraham Joshua Heschel he-man doe men Faith like Job's cannot be shaken becasue it is the result of having been shaken. Abraham Joshua Heschel religious faith jobs The riches of the soul are stored up in its memory. this is the test of character, not whether a man follows the daily fashion, but whether the past is alive in his present. Abraham Joshua Heschel fashion character memories To pray is to take notice of the wonder, to regain a sense of the mystery that animates all beings, the divine margin in all attainments. Abraham Joshua Heschel mystery praying wonder Self-respect is the fruit of discipline. Abraham Joshua Heschel warrior respect inspirational-life The awe of God is wisdom. Abraham Joshua Heschel awe We may not know whether our understanding is correct, or whether our sentiments are noble, but the air of the day surrounds us like spring which spreads over the land without our aid or notice. Abraham Joshua Heschel sunday air spring Then comes the insight that All is God. One still realizes that the world is as it was, but it does not matter, it does not affect one's faith. Abraham Joshua Heschel god doe world God is everywhere or nowhere, the father of all people or of none, concerned about everything or nothing. Only in His presence shall we learn that the glory of humankind is not in its will to power but in its power of compassion. Abraham Joshua Heschel compassion father people Normal consciousness is a state of stupor, in which the sensibility to the wholly real and responsiveness to the stimuli of the spirit are reduced. The mystics, knowing that man is involved in a hidden history of the cosmos, endeavor to awake from the drowsiness and apathy and to regain the state of wakefulness for their enchanted souls. Abraham Joshua Heschel knowing real men The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith. Abraham Joshua Heschel rejection arrogance worship All action is vicarious faith. Abraham Joshua Heschel vicarious action It is of the essence of virtue that the good is not to be done for the sake of a reward. Abraham Joshua Heschel rewards done essence Forfeit your sense of awe, let your conceit diminish your ability to revere, and the universe becomes a market place for you. Abraham Joshua Heschel ability conceit forfeit feel in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal Abraham Joshua Heschel passing eternal feels
