Maimonides

Jewish philosopher

Medieval influential 117 sayings

Sayings by Maimonides

The greatest evil that can befall men is that they should consider themselves as perfect.

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

The physician should not treat the disease but the patient who has the disease.

c. 1187 — Aphorisms of Maimonides
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Man's generally accepted view is that good is all that is pleasant to him, and evil is all that is unpleasant to him.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part I, Chapter 2
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

One should not consider as a defect the fact that the Torah provides for the well-being of the body, as it provides for the well-being of the soul.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, Chapter 27
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greater the truth, the greater the libel.

c. 1187 — Aphorisms of Maimonides (often cited, but direct source hard to pinpoint definitively)
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It is not the eye that sees, but the soul that sees through the eye.

c. 1187 — Medical Aphorisms
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the entire world disagrees with it.

c. 1199 — Letter to Rabbi Jonathan of Lunel
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The aim of the law is to make man perfect, and it is impossible for man to be perfect so long as his mind is not perfect.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, Chapter 27
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The object of the study of the Torah is the removal of evil opinions and the acquisition of correct opinions.

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

The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision.

c. 1187 — Medical Aphorisms (often attributed, but direct source hard to pinpoint definitively)
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The highest degree of love for God consists in occupying oneself with His law, not for the sake of reward, but for the sake of the love itself.

c. 1170-1180 — Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Teshuvah 10:1
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The more necessary a thing is for the preservation of man, the more it is known to all.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part I, Chapter 34
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greatest disease is ignorance.

c. 1187 — Medical Aphorisms (often cited, but direct source hard to pinpoint definitively)
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The intellect is the highest part of man.

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

There is no more excellent quality for man than humility.

c. 1170-1180 — Mishneh Torah, Hilchot De'ot 2:3
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The wise man should not be ashamed to confess that he does not know what he does not know.

c. 1187 — Medical Aphorisms (often cited, but direct source hard to pinpoint definitively)
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The physician must be able to discern the state of health of a person from his speech, his gait, his sleep, his dreams, his appetite, his thirst, his excretions, and his thoughts.

c. 1187 — Medical Aphorisms
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The true perfection of man is to attain to the knowledge of God.

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

The knowledge of God is not acquired by speculation, but by the study of His works.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part I, Chapter 50
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The human intellect is a part of the divine emanation which is united with man.

c. 1190 — The Guide for the Perplexed, Part I, Chapter 72
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable