The Talmud is a sacred text of the Jewish faith—it is the corpus of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend.
The word Talmud is short for ‘Talmud Torah,’ which means “study of the Torah” in Hebrew. The Torah is the Hebrew term for the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.)
The Talmud is composed of several volumes of rabbinical discussions about the interpretation of the Biblical text related to Jewish history, philosophy, ethics, and customs—the meaning and conduct of life, in general.
The central part of the Talmud is the Mishnah, a record of the core teachings of the Jewish faith that were previously preserved only orally. Surrounding the Mishnah is the Gemara, the interpretation and commentaries of the Mishnah.
The Talmud has no single author. Instead, it is a collection of several volumes, to which Jewish scholars have added their accumulated knowledge over time since about 220 CE.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by The Talmud
Recommended Reading
- ‘The Essential Talmud‘ by Adin Steinsaltz
- ‘The Talmud: A Selection‘ by Norman Solomon
- ‘Everyman’s Talmud: The Major Teachings of the Rabbinic Sages‘ by Abraham Cohen
- ‘Reference Guide to the Talmud‘ by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
Inspirational Quotes from the Talmud (Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith)
If a man has knowledge, he has all things; if he has no knowledge, he has nothing.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
He who fears the opinion of the world more than his own conscience has but little self-respect.
—The Talmud
Only when the father tempts the son to commit sin is disobedience justifiable.
—The Talmud
The Messiah will not come until haughtiness shall have ceased among men.
—The Talmud
Topics: Pride
To be unmarried is to live without joy, without blessing, without kindness, without religion, and without peace.
—The Talmud
He who acquires knowledge, without imparting it to others, is like a myrtle in the desert, where there is no one to enjoy it.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
The possessions of him who lends usuriously shall sooner or later decrease and vanish.
—The Talmud
Beautiful is the intellectual occupation, if combined with some practical work.
—The Talmud
The wiser the man, the more careful should he be of his conduct.
—The Talmud
Topics: Sin
The receiver is as bad as the thief.
—The Talmud
This world is an antechamber to the next.
—The Talmud
When the thief has no opportunity to steal he considers himself an honest man.
—The Talmud
Topics: Honesty
There are four kinds of temperament: To be easily provoked, and to be easily pacified, is to neutralize a bad quality with a good one; to be provoked with difficulty, and to be pacified with difficulty, is to neutralize a good quality by a bad one; to be provoked with difficulty, and to be easily pacified, is the temperament of a holy man; to be easily provoked and pacified with difficulty is the temperament of a wicked man.
—The Talmud
When the calf kicks, ’tis time to thrash the cow.
—The Talmud
Let thy house be a resort of the wise.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
A child must love and honor his parents while they are living, and must love and respect them after they are dead; and as they loved and honored God, he must love and honor God, and thus make his parents live again in his own good deeds.
—The Talmud
Religion maketh the man.
—The Talmud
Topics: Religion
Love is blind. That is why he always proceeds by the sense of touch.
—The Talmud
Topics: Love
Prepare thyself in the antechamber that thou mayest worthily enter the throne-room.
—The Talmud
The liar is worse than the thief.
—The Talmud
Topics: Truth
It is necessary to have a knowledge of the world, besides a knowledge of the Holy Law.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
When the iron was created the trees commenced to tremble. The iron, however, said to them: “What are you trembling at? If none of your wood will join me, I will remain harmless”.
—The Talmud
It is our duty to relieve the poor and the needy, to visit the sick and bury the dead without distinction of race or creed.
—The Talmud
Topics: Charity
Parental love should be impartial; one child must not be preferred to the other.
—The Talmud
A man’s merits should be fully stated in his absence, but only partially in his presence.
—The Talmud
Without knowledge there can be neither true morality nor piety.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
Love takes no advice.
—The Talmud
Topics: Love
He who lays up no store of good deeds during the working days of life can never enjoy the eternal Sabbath.
—The Talmud
Who is a wise man? He who looks into the future.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
The Bible was given to establish peace.
—The Talmud
He who devotes himself to the mere study of religion without engaging in works of love and mercy is like one who has no God.
—The Talmud
Topics: Religion
The virtuous of all nations participate in eternal bliss.
—The Talmud
Topics: Tolerance
No Israelite is allowed to lend usuriously to a non-Israelite.
—The Talmud
God may delay all other punishments, but the sin of perjury is avenged straightway.
—The Talmud
Hospitality is as important as divine worship.
—The Talmud
He gives little who gives with a frown; he gives much who gives little with a smile.
—The Talmud
Topics: Giving, Service, Charity
He who eats and drinks, but blesses not the Lord, is even as he who stealeth.
—The Talmud
Topics: Ingratitude
Thy neighbor’s property must be as sacred to thee as thine own.
—The Talmud
Topics: Justice
Whosoever runs after greatness, greatness runs away from him ; he who runs from greatness, greatness follows him.
—The Talmud
Topics: Humility
Whosoever is loved by mankind is also loved by the Supreme, but whosoever is not loved by mankind is not loved by the Supreme.
—The Talmud
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Harold Kushner American Jewish Religious Leader
Abraham Joshua Heschel American Jewish Rabbi
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto Italian Jewish Rabbi
Moses Mendelssohn German Jewish Philosopher
Hyman Judah Schachtel American Jewish Religious Leader
Nachman of Breslov Ukrainian Jewish Religions Leader
Berthold Auerbach German Novelist
Joshua L. Liebman American Jewish Rabbi
Corrie Ten Boom Dutch Jewish Humanist
Abraham Isaac Kook Latvian-born Jewish Rabbi