There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you help a man to help himself.
MaimonidesRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wisdom helps us avoid harm to ourselves and others by fostering understanding and truth.
Maimonides suggests that if individuals truly understood wisdom as essential for human life, akin to how sight is vital for the eye, they would not inflict harm upon themselves or others. The quote implies that true knowledge and understanding of truth can eliminate negative emotions such as hatred and conflict, leading to a more harmonious existence.
Themes
WisdomTruthUnderstandingPeaceKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on conflict resolution, to emphasize the importance of wisdom in preventing disputes.
More from Maimonides
All quotes →God who preceded all existence is a refuge.
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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.
MaimonidesRead
If the whole earth is infinitely small in comparison with the sphere of the stars, what is man compared with all these created beings!
MaimonidesRead
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.
MaimonidesRead
Further, there are things of which the mind understands one part, but remains ignorant of the other; and when man is able to comprehend certain things, it does not follow that he must be able to comprehend everything.
MaimonidesRead
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