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Quotes from Guide for the Perplexed — Maimonides

1130–1204 Spain

← All quotes by Maimonides

78 quotes

In addition to the teaching of truths the Law aims at the removal of injustice from mankind.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

Management [ Providence ], knowledge, and intention are not the same when ascribed to us and when ascribed to God.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

The being which has absolute existence, which has never been and will never be without existence, is not in need of an agent.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

However great the exertion of our mind may be to comprehend the Divine Being or any of the ideals, we find a screen and partition between God and us.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

Consider in how many ways His knowledge is distinguished from ours according to all the teaching of every revealed religion.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

It is man's duty to love and to fear God, even without hope of reward or fear of punishment.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

That which is produced with intention has passed over from non-existence to existence.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

It is of great advantage that man should know his station, and not imagine that the whole universe exists only for him.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

This course brings diseases and afflictions upon the body and soul alike.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

The second class of evils comprises such evils as people cause to each other, when, e.g., some of them use their strength against others.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

For a truth, once established by proof, does neither gain force nor certainty by the consent of all scholars, nor lose by the general dissent.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

The true work of God is all good, since it is existence.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

If men possessed wisdom, which stands in the same relation to the form of man as the sight to the eye, they would not cause any injury to themselves or to others, for the knowledge of the truth removes hatred and quarrels, and prevents mutual injuries.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

It is hard for a woman, with whom an uncircumcised had sexual intercourse, to separate from him.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

Thus all precepts cautioning against idolatry, or against that which is connected therewith, leads to it, or is related to it, are evidently useful.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

God's knowledge extends to things not in existence, and includes also the infinite.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

Actions are divided as regards their object into four classes; they are either purposeless, unimportant, or vain, or good.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

My object in adopting this arrangement is that the truths should be at one time apparent and at another time concealed.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

No form remains permanently in a substance; a constant change takes place, one form is taken off and another is put on.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

For that which is without a beginning, a final cause need not be sought.

Guide for the Perplexed (1190)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Maimonides (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.