Maimonides

Jewish philosopher

Medieval influential 117 sayings

Sayings by Maimonides

The true meaning of worship is to meditate on the works of God.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, Chapter 51
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The human intellect is the most perfect of all created things.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part I, Chapter 1
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The human soul is a simple substance, and it is not composed of parts.

c. 1170-1180 — Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 2:3
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The human body is a tool for the soul, and it should be kept in good condition.

c. 1170-1180 — Mishneh Torah, Hilchot De'ot 4:1
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The human mind is capable of understanding the divine attributes.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part I, Chapter 54
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The true perfection of man consists in his knowledge of God and his love for Him.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, Chapter 54
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The human soul is the most precious thing in the world.

c. 1170-1180 — Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Teshuvah 8:2
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

c. 1180 CE — Ethical teachings (often misattributed to Confucius)
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

One should see the world, and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil.

c. 1180 CE — Ethical teachings
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Do not consider it proof just because it is written in books, for a liar who will deceive with his tongue will not hesitate to do the same with his pen.

c. 1180 CE — Critique of blind faith in texts
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The physician should not treat the disease but the patient who is suffering from it.

c. 1180 CE — Medical ethics
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

No disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means.

c. 1180 CE — Medical advice
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Anticipate charity by preventing poverty.

c. 1180 CE — Ethical teachings
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The wise man is he who learns from all men.

c. 1180 CE — Ethical teachings
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

For if a man were to study the Torah with a view to obtaining reward, and keeping the commandments in order to escape punishment, he would be studying not for the sake of the Torah, but for the sake of reward; and since reward is a thing of no consequence, he would be studying for the sake of something of no consequence, and would thus be learning nothing at all.

c. 1170-1180 — Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Teshuvah 10:4
Controversial Unverifiable

It is not proper to teach the Oral Law except to a single individual, and then only if he is a wise and understanding man.

c. 1170-1180 — Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah 4:4
Controversial Unverifiable

The object of the Law is to make man perfect, by giving him true opinions concerning God, and concerning the existence of all things; and by removing from him all notions that are apt to lead to the belief that God is not one, or that He is not the Creator of the world, or that He is not omniscient, or that He is not omnipotent, or that He is not eternal, or that He has a body, or that He is not the only object of worship.

c. 1190 — Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, Chapter 27
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest good is the knowledge of God. The greatest evil is the ignorance of God.

c. 1190 — Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, Chapter 54
Controversial Unverifiable

The Torah speaks in the language of men.

c. 1190 — Guide for the Perplexed, Part I, Chapter 26
Controversial Unverifiable

It is a fundamental principle of our religion that a prophet may not add or subtract from a commandment, whether in the Written Torah or in the Oral Torah.

c. 1170-1180 — Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 9:1
Controversial Unverifiable