Pirkei Avot Quotes – Words of Wisdom from Jewish Sages

Let your house be a meeting place for the wise; dust yourself in the dust of their feet and drink their words with thirsty heart. – Pirkei Avot 1:4

Judge every person favorably. – Pirkei Avot 1:6

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when? – Pirkei Avot 1:14

Make for yourself a mentor, acquire for yourself a friend, and judge every person favorably. – Pirkei Avot 1:6

Say little and do much, and receive everyone with a cheerful face. – Pirkei Avot 1:15

Exile yourself to a place of Torah, and do not expect good company. – Pirkei Avot 1:10

He who acquires a good name, acquires it for himself. He who acquires words of Torah, has acquired eternal life in the World to Come. – Pirkei Avot 2:8

Let your desire to understand the Divine truth be greater than your desire for wealth. – Pirkei Avot 2:9

Do not judge your fellow until you have stood in his place. – Pirkei Avot 2:5

In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man. – Pirkei Avot 2:6

The world is sustained by three things: Torah, prayer, and acts of kindness. – Pirkei Avot 1:2

Who is wise? One who learns from every person. – Pirkei Avot 4:1

The day is short, and the work is great, and the workers are lazy, and the reward is great, and the Master of the house is insistent. – Pirkei Avot 2:15

It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it. – Pirkei Avot 2:16

Love work, despise lordship, and do not become familiar with the government. – Pirkei Avot 1:10

Do not look at the jug, but at what is inside it. – Pirkei Avot 4:27

Who is rich? One who is content with his lot. – Pirkei Avot 4:1

Beautiful is the study of Torah with the way of the world, for the toil of them both causes sin to be forgotten. – Pirkei Avot 2:2

Be bold as a leopard, swift as an eagle, fleet as a deer, and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven. – Pirkei Avot 5:20

Any love that is dependent on something, when that thing ceases, the love also ceases. But a love that is not dependent on anything never ceases. – Pirkei Avot 5:16

Do not separate yourself from the community. – Pirkei Avot 2:4

Be cautious in judgment. – Pirkei Avot 1:8

The reward is in accordance with the effort. – Pirkei Avot 5:23

Do not believe in yourself until the day of your death. – Pirkei Avot 2:4

Say little and do much. – Pirkei Avot 1:15

Do not seek greatness for yourself. – Pirkei Avot 1:10

Do not distance yourself from the community. – Pirkei Avot 2:5

A good heart is better than all the offerings. – Pirkei Avot 2:10

The reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah. – Pirkei Avot 4:2

Do not judge your fellow until you are in his place. – Pirkei Avot 2:5

Do not befriend a wicked person. – Pirkei Avot 1:7

Good is the study of Torah along with an occupation, for the toil of both make sin be forgotten. – Pirkei Avot 2:2

Acquire for yourself a teacher, find for yourself a friend. – Pirkei Avot 1:6

Scholars increase peace in the world. – Pirkei Avot 1:12

Where there is no knowledge, there is no understanding. – Pirkei Avot 3:17

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? – Pirkei Avot 1:14

Let your house be a gathering place for sages, and cover yourself in the dust of their feet, and drink in their words with thirst. – Pirkei Avot 1:4

Great is learning Torah, for it gives life both to those who practice it and those who hear it. – Pirkei Avot 6:7

Despise prestige, seek not familiarity with the ruling authorities. – Pirkei Avot 1:10

Do not judge a person until you are in their place. – Pirkei Avot 2:4

Let the honor of your fellow be as dear to you as your own. – Pirkei Avot 2:15

In a place where there are no people, strive to be a person. – Pirkei Avot 2:6

Who is rich? He who rejoices in his portion. – Pirkei Avot 4:1

The day is short and the work is vast. – Pirkei Avot 2:15

Love work, hate ruling, and do not get too close to the government. – Pirkei Avot 1:10

Look not at the vessel, but at what it contains. – Pirkei Avot 4:27

Do not judge your neighbor until you stand in his place. – Pirkei Avot 2:4

Increased Torah increases life. – Pirkei Avot 2:7

The reward is commensurate with the effort. – Pirkei Avot 5:23

Build yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend. – Pirkei Avot 1:6