179 Quotes by Maimonides

The question, “What is the purpose thereof?” cannot be asked about anything which is not the product of an agent; therefore we cannot ask what is the purpose of the existence of God.

There is no difference between the worry of a human mother and an animal mother for their offspring. A mother’s love does not derive from the intellect but from the emotions, in animals just as in humans.

In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction.

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

In the realm of Nature there is nothing purposeless, trivial, or unnecessary.

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

The basic principle is that there is a First Being who brought every existing thing into being, for if it be supposed that he did not exist, then nothing else could possibly exist.

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.

Man’s obsession to add to his wealth and honor is the chief source of his misery.