Top 89 Quotes & Sayings by Nachman of Breslov

The prosperity of a country can be seen simply in how it treats its old people.

If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?

The Exodus from Egypt occurs in every human being, in every era, in every year, and in every day.

More men die from overeating than undernourishment.

While praying, listen to the words very carefully. When your heart is attentive, your entire being enters your prayer without your having to force it.

There is Truth, the truth of the Truth and there is Peace. The Truth is 'the boy stole an apple', the truth of the Truth is 'the boy was hungry' and Peace is 'nobody stole anything, now, give the boy an apple!'

Proper praying is like a person who wanders through a field gathering flowers-one by one, until they make a beautiful bouquet. In the same manner, a person must gather each letter, each syllable, to form them into words of prayer.

The essence of peace is to merge two opposites. Therefore your notions should not scare you if you see another, who absolutely opposes you, and you presume that there is no chance for peace between you two. On the same token when you see two individuals who are exactly two opposites, never say it would be impossible for them to reconcile. On the contrary, and this is the perfection of peace to make it between two opposites.

Charity cures heartaches.

The I is the soul, which endures.

Feel no sadness because of evil thoughts: it only strengthens them.

Always wear a smile. The gift of life will then be yours to give.

A poor but humble man who gives nothing to charity is preferrable to a rich but haughty man who does.

Where there is no compassion, crime increases.

Arbitration is justice blended with charity.

If you never want to see the face of hell, when you come home from work every night, dance with your kitchen towel and, if you're worried about waking up your family, take off your shoes.

Elderly men who are popular with young women usually lack wisdom.

The man who acts humble in order to win praise is guilty of the lowest form of pride.

He who cannot accept reproof cannot become great.

It is a great mitzvah to be happy always.

Freedom is the world of joy.

Man must not rely on pure reason; he must mix faith with it.

All new beginnings require that you unlock a new door.

Grant me the ability to be alone, May it be my custom to go outdoors each day among the trees and grasses among all growing things and there may I be alone, and enter into prayer to talk with the one that I belong to.

Get into the habit of singing a tune. It will give you new life and fill you with joy. Get into the habit of dancing. It will displace depression and dispel hardship.

You are wherever your thoughts are, make sure your thoughts are where you want to be.

When a man is able to take abuse with a smile, he is worthy to become a leader.

Find a day for yourself-better yet, late at night. Go to the forest or to the field, or lock yourself in a room ... You will meet solitude there. There you will be able to listen attentively to the noise of the wind first, to birds singing, to see wonderful nature and to notice yourself in it ... and to come back to harmonic connection with the world and its Creator.

Always remember, joy is not incidental to spiritual quest. It is vital.

An angry man is unfit to pray.

The world goes on because of those who close their lips when they meet hostility from others.

Believe that none of the effort you put into coming closer to God is ever wasted - even if in the end you don't achieve what you are striving for.

If all the ancient sacred writings had been preserved, some would be found to be heretical.

A man should believe in God through faith, not because of miracles.

If you do not help a man with his troubles, it is equivalent to bringing troubles to him.

Better a superstitious believer than a rational unbeliever.

Always help those who are being persecuted.

Whoever is able to write a book and does not, it is as if he has lost a child

Who lacks confidence speaks lies more readily.

A man's drive for profit should be prompted by the desire to give charity.

A modest woman has good children.

Thinking is more precious than all five senses.

Common sense is strengthened by joy.

Work at not needing approval from anyone and you will be free to be who you really are.

If you won't be better tomorrow than you were today, then what do you need tomorrow for?

Seek the good in everyone, and reveal it, bring it forth.

Depression does tremendous damage. Use every ploy you can think of to bring yourself to joy.

I conquered my hostility by putting it away until the day I might need it.

A quarrelsome man deserves no honors.

Even if you can't sing well, sing. Sing to yourself. Sing in the privacy of your home. But sing.

Don't ask God to change the laws of nature for you.

Worldly riches are like nuts; many a tooth is broke in cracking them, but never is the stomach filled with eating them.

He who has no confidence utters falsehoods, and he who utters falsehoods has no confidence.

Those who are pure of heart find new thoughts whenever they meditate.

Faith is not only in the heart; it should be put into words.

Let the good in me connect with the good in others, until all the world is transformed through the compelling power of love.

Just as your hand, held before the eye, can hide the tallest mountain, so this small earthly life keeps us from seeing the vast radiance that fills the core of the universe.

God forgets those who reject proof that they are wrong.

Prayers truly from the heart open all doors in Heaven.

The best weapons of a Jew are his prayers.