Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

54 Insightful Quotes By Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Distinguished Jewish Philosopher

Famous As: Rabbi
Born On: January 11, 1907
Died On: December 23, 1972
Born In: Warsaw
Died At Age: 65
Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Jewish theologian, philosopher and rabbi, who was born in Poland but lived in the United States for the second half of his life. After pursuing an orthodox Jewish education, he studied at the University of Berlin, from where he earned his doctorate degree. However, the persecution of Jews by the Nazis forced him to leave Germany and he arrived in New York in 1940. After arriving in the United States, he became a teacher at the Hebrew Union College and later on joined the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He tirelessly contributed in the Civil Rights Movement. Heschel was also very well-known for the numerous books that he had written. Some of the noted books written by him include ‘The Earth is the Lord’s: The Inner World of the Jew in Eastern Europe’, ‘Israel: An Echo of Eternity’, ‘The Prophets’,  ‘A Passion for Truth’, ‘Who is Man?’, ‘Man’s Quest for God’ and ‘Heavenly Torah: As Refracted Through the Generations’ among others. He became one of the most well-known rabbis in the United States for his writings, thoughts and work. Here are the most notable sayings and quotes by Abraham Joshua Heschel on celebration, attention, song, ineffable, time, deception, wonder, life, appreciation, knowledge, spirituality and reason.
Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows
with the ability to say no to oneself.

Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.

When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge.

Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Faith is not the clinging to a shrine but an endless pilgrimage of the heart.

Faith is not the clinging to a shrine but an endless pilgrimage of the heart.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Never once in my life did I ask God for success or wisdom or power or fame. I asked for wonder, and he gave it to me.

Never once in my life did I ask God for success or wisdom or power or fame. I asked for wonder, and he gave it to me.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Few are guilty, but all are responsible.

Few are guilty, but all are responsible.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people.

When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.

Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding that life without wonder is not worth living.

The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding that life without wonder is not worth living.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith.

The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Prayer begins at the edge of emptiness.

Prayer begins at the edge of emptiness.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Remember that there is meaning beyond absurdity. Know that every deed counts, that every word is power...Above all, remember that you must build your life as if it were a work of art.

Remember that there is meaning beyond absurdity. Know that every deed counts, that every word is power...Above all, remember that you must build your life as if it were a work of art.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
We can never sneer at the stars, mock the dawn, or scoff at the totality of being.

We can never sneer at the stars, mock the dawn, or scoff at the totality of being.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living.

Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
The problem to be faced is: how to combine loyalty to one's own tradition with reverence for different traditions.

The problem to be faced is: how to combine loyalty to one's own tradition with reverence for different traditions.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
I have one talent, and that is the capacity to be tremendously surprised, surprised at life, at ideas. This is to me the supreme Hasidic imperative: Don't be old. Don't be stale.

I have one talent, and that is the capacity to be tremendously surprised, surprised at life, at ideas. This is to me the supreme Hasidic imperative: Don't be old. Don't be stale.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Prayer begins where our power ends.

Prayer begins where our power ends.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
God is either of no importance, or of supreme importance.

God is either of no importance, or of supreme importance.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
A prophet's true greatness is his ability to hold God and man in a single thought.

A prophet's true greatness is his ability to hold God and man in a single thought.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.

Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
To pray is to dream in league with God, to envision His holy visions.

To pray is to dream in league with God, to envision His holy visions.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
The prophets never taught that God and history are one, or that whatever happens below reflects the will of God above. Their vision is of man defying God, and God seeking man to reconcile with Him.

The prophets never taught that God and history are one, or that whatever happens below reflects the will of God above. Their vision is of man defying God, and God seeking man to reconcile with Him.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Only those will apprehend religion who can probe its depth, who can combine intuition and love with the rigor of method

Only those will apprehend religion who can probe its depth, who can combine intuition and love with the rigor of method

Abraham Joshua Heschel
The true meaning of existence is disclosed in moments of living in the presence of God

The true meaning of existence is disclosed in moments of living in the presence of God

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Who is a Jew? A person whose integrity decays when unmoved by the knowledge of wrong done to other people.

Who is a Jew? A person whose integrity decays when unmoved by the knowledge of wrong done to other people.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
This is one of the goals of the Jewish way of living: to experience commonplace deeds as spiritual adventures, to feel the hidden love and wisdom in all things.

This is one of the goals of the Jewish way of living: to experience commonplace deeds as spiritual adventures, to feel the hidden love and wisdom in all things.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
In Jewish tradition, dying in one’s sleep is called a kiss of God, and dying on the Sabbath is a gift that is merited by piety. For the pious person, my father once wrote, it is a privilege to die.

In Jewish tradition, dying in one’s sleep is called a kiss of God, and dying on the Sabbath is a gift that is merited by piety. For the pious person, my father once wrote, it is a privilege to die.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Wonder or radical amazement is the chief characteristic of the religious man's attitude toward history and nature.

Wonder or radical amazement is the chief characteristic of the religious man's attitude toward history and nature.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
Wise criticism always begins with self-criticism.

Wise criticism always begins with self-criticism.

Abraham Joshua Heschel
There is a passion and drive for cruel deeds which only the awe and fear of God can soothe; there is a suffocating selfishness in man which only holiness can ventilate.

There is a passion and drive for cruel deeds which only the awe and fear of God can soothe; there is a suffocating selfishness in man which only holiness can ventilate.

Abraham Joshua Heschel