The perpetual enemy of faith in the true God is not atheism (the claim that there is no God), but rather Gnosticism (the claim that God is known). Martin Buber More Quotes by Martin Buber More Quotes From Martin Buber One cannot in the nature of things expect a little tree that has been turned into a club to put forth leaves. Martin Buber clubs tree littles It is not the nature of the task, but its consecration, that is the vital thing. Martin Buber consecration tasks How would man exist if God did not need him, and how would you exist? You need God in order to be, and God needs you - for that is the meaning of your life. Martin Buber men life order I shall teach you the best way to say Torah. You must cease to be aware of yourselves. You must be nothing but an ear that hears what the universe of the word is constantly saying within you. The moment you start hearing what you yourself are saying, YOU must stop. Martin Buber hearing ears way Only men who are capable of saying Thou [an attitude of deep respect] to one another can truly say we with one another. Martin Buber capable attitude men So long as you "have" yourself, have yourself as an object, your experience of man is only as of a thing among things. Martin Buber objects men long In the story of the Creation we read: ". . . And behold, it was very good." But, in the passage where Moses reproves Israel, the verse says: "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil." Where did the evil come from? Evil too is good. It is the lowest rung of perfect goodness. If you do good deeds, even evil will become good; but if you sin, evil will really become evil. Martin Buber israel evil perfect A story must be told in such a way that it constitutes help in itself. My grandfather was lame. Once they asked him to tell a story about his teacher. And he related how the holy Baal Shem used to hop and dance while he prayed. My grandfather rose as he spoke, and he was so swept away by his story that he himself began to hop and dance to show how the master had done. From that hour he was cured of his lameness. That's how to tell a story. Martin Buber grandfather rose teacher The future stands in need of you in order to be born. Martin Buber born order needs This is the eternal origin of art that a human being confronts a form that wants to become a work through him. Not a figment of his soul but something that appears to the soul and demands the soul's creative power. What is required is a deed that a man does with his whole being. Martin Buber creative men art The world is not divine sport, it is divine destiny. There is a divine meaning of the world, of man, of human persons, of you and me. Martin Buber destiny sports men You can rake the muck this way, rake the muck that way-- it will always be muck. Have I sinned or have I not sinned? In the time I am brooding over it, I could be stringing pearls for the delight of Heaven Martin Buber rakes delight heaven You do not attain to knowledge by remaining on the shore and watching the foaming waves, you must make the venture and cast yourself in, you must swim, alert and with all your force, even if a moment comes when you think you are losing consciousness; in this way, and in no other, do you reach anthropological insight. Martin Buber venture swim thinking One should hallow all that one does in one's natural life. One eats in holiness, tastes the taste of food in holiness, and the table becomes an altar. One works in holiness, and raises up the sparks which hide themselves in all tools. One walks in holiness across the fields, and the soft songs of all herbs, which they voice to God, enter into the song of our soul. Martin Buber voice soul song Love is responsibility of an I for a You: in this consists what cannot consist in any feeling - the equality of all lovers. Martin Buber responsibility feelings love-is Inscrutably involved, we live in the currents of universal reciprocity. Martin Buber currents ethics moral God is the "mysterium tremendum," that appears and overthrows, but he is also the mystery of the self-evident, nearer to me than my I. Martin Buber evident mystery self It pains me to speak of God in the third person. Martin Buber third-person pain speak You should carefully observe the way toward which your heart draws you, then choose this way with all your strength. Martin Buber should heart way No limits are set to the ascent of man, and to each and everyone the highest stands open. Here it is only your personal choice that decides. Martin Buber ascent choices men
