50 Jewish Quotes on Living Righteously
On Living Righteously
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4191311/jewish/50-Jewish-Quotes-on-Things-to-Do-Always.htm#utm_medium=email&utm_source=1_chabad.org_magazine_en&utm_campaign=en&utm_content=content
1. A person should always consider himself to be half wicked and half righteous. If he did one mitzvah,
praiseworthy is he, for he tipped himself toward the side of
righteousness. If he sinned, woe is to him, for he tipped himself toward
the side of guilt.12. A person should always [prefer to] live in a neighborhood of lions rather than a city of evildoers.2
3. A person should always engage in Torah and mitzvot before he dies; once he is dead he is idle from Torah and mitzvot and unable to praise G‑d.3
4. A person should always [prefer] to be pursued rather than to pursue others.4
5. A person should always act [in a dignified manner] as if he is a Torah scholar.5
6. A person should always engage in Torah and mitzvot, even if not for their own sake, as through it one comes to perform them for their own sake.6
On Living Wisely
7. A person should always [take care] not cast his thoughts backwards
[to the past], for his eyes are placed on his face and not his back.78. Always keep a low profile and [you will] prosper.8
9. A person should always eat and drink less than what he can afford, dress and cover himself in accordance with his means, and honor his wife and children beyond his means.9
10. A person should always attach himself to good people. 10
11. A person should always push away with his [weak] left hand, but draw near with his [strong] right hand.11
12. A person should always [take care] not [to] stand in a place of danger, insisting that a miracle will be performed for him. Perhaps a miracle will not be performed for him, and if a miracle is done, it will detract from his merits.12
13. A person should always be careful about [not causing] suffering [for] his wife.13
On Alacrity
14. One should always rise early to go to the synagogue in order to have the privilege to be counted among the first ten.1415. A person should make himself like a captain [on the lookout for ways] to perform a mitzvah.15
16. A person should always view himself as if the entire world depends on him.16
17. A person should always incite his good inclination against his evil inclination.17
On Manners
18. A person should always avoid anger during meal time.1819. A person should always be careful with how he [formulates his] answers.19
20. A person should always speak in a respectable manner.20
21. A person should always not depart from his master or his friend unless he first took leave and asked permission.21
On Torah Study
22. A person should always absorb his Torah learning in
[broad-reaching] principles. For if he takes them in [only] as details,
they will tire him out and he will not know what to do.2223. A person should always be like an ox to the yoke and like a donkey to the load … toiling in Torah matters.23
24. A person should always learn the Torah topic that his heart desires.24
25. A person should always [first] study Torah and afterwards analyze [what he learned].25
26. A person should always teach his student in a succinct manner.26
27. A person should always divide his [study] time into three parts: One third for Scripture, one third for Mishnah, and one third for Talmud.27
On Prayer
Young and old pray together at the synagogue. (Photo: Ingrid Shakenovsky)
29. A person should always speak but a few words before G‑d.29
30. A person should always be particular regarding the Afternoon Service [which comes in the middle of the work day].30
31. A person should always set forth the praises of G‑d and then pray [for his needs].31
32. A person should always arrange his prayer [in his mind] and then pray.32
33. A person should always pray in a building with windows [through which he can look up to the heavens].33
On Attitude
34. A person should always [take care] not [to] be ungrateful, for his punishment will be swift.3435. A person should always accustom himself to say: All that G‑d does is for the good.35
36. A person should always be soft like a reed and not rigid like a cedar.36
37. A person should always be patient like Hillel and not exacting like Shammai.37
38. A person should always learn [humility] from the wisdom of his Creator, as G‑d disregarded all [tall] mountains and hills and rested His Divine Presence on the [lowly] Mount Sinai.38
On Money
39. Always view people [you do not know] like thieves, but honor them like [the great leader] Rabban Gamliel.39 40. A person should always sell a field to purchase goats [which produce shearings, milk, and meat] but never sell sheep to purchase land.40
41. A person’s money should always be found in his possession.41
42. A person should always divide his money into three: one-third in the ground [for the future], one-third [invested] in business, and one-third in his possession.42
43. A person should always teach his son a clean and easy trade, and pray to the One to Whom wealth and property belong, as there is no trade that does not include both poverty and wealth.43
On Health
44. A person should always accustom himself to [using the bathroom]
in the morning and in the evening so that he will not distance himself
[during the day to find an appropriate place].4445. A person should always consider himself to have a sacred [item] in his bowels [which may become damaged by not eating properly].45
46. A person should always [be prepared to] sell the beams of his house in order to purchase shoes for his feet.46
On Shabbat
Art by Heidi Feldman
48. A person should always set his table on Shabbat eve, even if he only needs [to eat the size of] an olive.48
49. A person should always run [to fulfil] a matter of Jewish law, even on Shabbat.49
50. A person should always set his table [for the meal eaten] after Shabbat, even if he only needs [to eat the size of] an olive.50
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