Pirke Avot

Essential Quotes

“On three things the world is stayed; on the Torah, and on the Worship, and on the bestowal of Kindnesses.”

“If I am not for myself who is for me? And being for my own self what am I? If not now when?”

“There are four characters in those who sit under the wise: a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, and a bolt-sieve. A sponge, which sucks up all; a funnel, which lets in here and lets out there; a strainer, which lets out the wine and keeps back the dregs; a bolt-sieve, which lets out the pollard and keeps back the flour.”

“Ben Bag-bag said, Turn it [the Torah], and again turn it, for the all is therein, and thy all is therein: and swerve not therefrom, for thou canst have no greater excellency than this.”