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)
Buy nothing from a thief.
—The Talmud
Be as eager to secure thy fellow’s honor as thine own, and yield not easily to anger.
—The Talmud
The strict observance of Sabbath and the Day of Atonement is set aside, when the physician declares such desecration necessary, even against the will of the patient.
—The Talmud
Slaves should never be addressed as such, for the name itself is contemptible.
—The Talmud
The rivalry of scholars advances learning.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
Silence is consent.
—The Talmud
Topics: Silence
The house that does not open to the poor will open to the physician.
—The Talmud
Topics: Charity
Thy secret is thy slave. If thou let it loose, thou becomest its slave.
—The Talmud
Keep shut the doors of thy mouth Even from the wife of thy bosom.
—The Talmud
Sinful thoughts are even more dangerous than sin itself.
—The Talmud
Topics: Thoughts
A true wife makes the home a holy place.
—The Talmud
He who lives without a wife is no perfect man.
—The Talmud
While the son honors his parents, God holds it as if He were dwelling near the child, and were Himself receiving honor.
—The Talmud
He who has no wife is esteemed as dead.
—The Talmud
Into the well from which thou drinkest do not cast a stone.
—The Talmud
Topics: Ingratitude
The Sabbath is given to man, not man to the Sabbath.
—The Talmud
The birds in the air even despise the miser.
—The Talmud
The chief thing is not learning, but the deed.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
A special mansion will be given in Heaven to every pious man.
—The Talmud
Happy the man who resists his temptations.
—The Talmud
Topics: Temptation
All ailings, only not the ailing of heart; all evils, but not an evil wife.
—The Talmud
Habit becomes natural.
—The Talmud
Topics: Habit
Anger profiteth nobody.
—The Talmud
Topics: Anger
If you interrupt your studies for one day, it will take you two to regain what you have lost.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
He who unjustly hands over one man’s goods to another, he shall pay God for it with his own soul.
—The Talmud
Topics: Honesty
Even the most righteous shall not attain to so high a place in heaven as the truly repentant.
—The Talmud
Study is more meritorious than sacrifice.
—The Talmud
Topics: Wisdom
A woman schemes while plying the spindle.
—The Talmud
A man should be opposed to taking alms as well as to being a burden on the community.
—The Talmud
Arrogance is a kingdom without a crown.
—The Talmud
Wait not to honor the physician till thou fallest sick.
—The Talmud
Topics: Positive Attitudes
The usurer will not prosper.
—The Talmud
The just of all nations have a portion in the future reward.
—The Talmud
Healthy poverty is opulence, compared with ailing wealth.
—The Talmud
Topics: Poverty
It is better to lend than to give. To give employment is better than either.
—The Talmud
Topics: Charity
The laborer is allowed to shorten his prayers.
—The Talmud
The world stands on three things: on Law, Labor, and Benevolence.
—The Talmud
Topics: Charity
Where the sages bid us beware for the sake of outward appearances, they mean us to regard even our innermost chamber as a marketplace.
—The Talmud
Charity is more than sacrifices.
—The Talmud
Topics: Charity
A man without a fitting companion is like the left hand without the right.
—The Talmud
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