He, however, who begins with Metaphysics, will not only become confused in matters of religion, but will fall into complete infidelity.
Interpretation
Starting with metaphysics can lead to confusion in religion and a loss of faith.
This quote by Maimonides suggests that beginning one's exploration or understanding of spirituality and religion through the lens of metaphysics can create a muddled and unclear perspective. He warns that this confusion can lead to a significant shift in oneβs beliefs, potentially resulting in complete skepticism or a departure from faith altogether.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the relationship between philosophy and religion.
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 truth removes hatred and quarrels, and prevents mutual injuries.
There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you help a man to help himself.
God who preceded all existence is a refuge.
When man possesses a good, sound body that does not overpower him nor disturb the equilibrium in him, he possesses a divine gift. In short, a good constitution facilitates the rule of the soul over the body, but it is not impossible to conquer a bad constitution by training.
If the whole earth is infinitely small in comparison with the sphere of the stars, what is man compared with all these created beings!
One should see the world, and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil. When he does one good deed the scale is tipped to the good - he and the world is saved. When he does one evil deed the scale is tipped to the bad - he and the world is destroyed.
We are in a far better position to observe instincts in animals or in primitives than in ourselves. This is due to the fact that we have grown accustomed to scrutinizing our own actions and to seeking rational explanations for them.
The first and most important thing a man should keep away from is not doing harm of any kind knowingly to anyone, at any time.
It will always be the same possibilities, in sum or on the average, that go on repeating themselves until a man comes along who does not value the actuality above idea. It is he who first gives the new possibilities their meaning, their direction, and he awakens them.
The most moral activity of all is the creation of space for life to move around.
I think many people are terribly afraid of being demoted by the Darwinian scheme from the role of authors and creators in their own right into being just places where things happen in the universe.
If a lion could talk, we could not understand him.
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