The key to the understanding and to the full comprehension of all that the Prophets have said is found in the knowledge of the figures, their general ideas, and the meaning of each word they contain. Maimonides More Quotes by Maimonides More Quotes From Maimonides He who immerses himself in sexual intercourse will be assailed by premature aging, his strength will wane, his eyes will weaken, and a bad odour will emit from his mouth and his armpits, his teeth will fall out and many other maladies will afflict him. Maimonides teeth eye fall He who does not understand that a dead lion is more alive than a living dog will remain a dog. Maimonides alive dog doe Anticipate charity by preventing poverty; assist the reduced fellow man, either by a considerable gift or a sum of money or by teaching him a trade or by putting him in the way of business so that he may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity. This is the highest step and summit of charity's golden ladder. Maimonides compassion teaching men Astrology is not an art, it is a disease. Maimonides astrology funny art Anticipate charity by preventing poverty. Maimonides charity inspirational life The people who are abroad are all those that have no religion, neither one based on speculation nor one received by tradition. Such are the extreme Turks that wander about in the north, the Kushites who live in the south, and those in our country who are like these. I consider these as irrational beings, and not as human beings; they are below mankind, but above monkeys, since they have the form and shape of man, and a mental faculty above that of the monkey. Maimonides religious animal country The more necessary a thing is for living beings, the more easily it is found and the cheaper it is; the less necessary it is, the rarer and dearer it is. Maimonides cheaper found Do not imagine that these most difficult problems can be thoroughly understood by any one of us. Maimonides difficult imagine problem If a person studies too much and exhausts his reflective powers, he will be confused, and will not be able to apprehend even that which had been within the power of his apprehension. For the powers of the body are all alike in this respect. Maimonides confused able body Actions are divided as regards their object into four classes; they are either purposeless , unimportant , or vain , or good . Maimonides four action class There is no difference between the worry of a human mother and an animal mother for their offspring. A mother's love does not derive from the intellect but from the emotions, in animals just as in humans. Maimonides differences mother animal A wise man is a greater asset to a nation than a king. Maimonides kings wise men Astrology is a sickness, not a science ... It is a tree under the shade of which all sorts of superstitions thrive. Maimonides astrology shade tree Contrast the experience with something worse and you cannot help feeling happy and grateful because... The change from trouble to comfort gives us more pleasure than uninterrupted comfort does. Maimonides gratitude grateful giving Nobody is ever impoverished through the giving of charity. Maimonides charity giving Hold firmly to your word. Maimonides honesty One should see the world, and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil. When he does one good deed the scale is tipped to the good - he and the world is saved. When he does one evil deed the scale is tipped to the bad - he and the world is destroyed. Maimonides balance evil doe Everyone entrusted with a mission is an angel. Maimonides missions angel Galen , in the third section of his book, "The Use of the Limbs," says correctly that it would be in vain to expect to see living beings formed of the blood of menstruous women and the semen virile, who will not die, will never feel pain, or will move perpetually, or shine like the sun. This dictum of Galen is part of the following more general proposition: Whatever is formed of matter receives the most perfect form possible in that species of matter; in each individual case the defects are in accordance with that individual matter. Maimonides pain book moving Giving is most blessed and most acceptable when the donor remains completely anonymous. Maimonides generosity blessed kindness
