A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

Are we truly committed to the notion that ideals and values vary and alter in accordance with changing conditions? Should we not question such a relativistic dogma? Isn't the degree of our sensitivity to the validity of the ultimate ideals and values that fluctuates rather than the ultimate ideals and values?

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

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

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

Funds cult decide'—the world wants to be deceived. To live without deception presupposes standards beyond the reach of most people whose existence is largely shaped by compromise, evasion and mutual accommodation. Could they face their weakness, their vanity and selfishness, without a mask?

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

Man is not a beast of burden, and the Sabbath is not for the purpose of enhancing the efficiency of his work.

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

...morally speaking, there is no limit to the concern one must feel for the suffering of human beings, that indifference to evil is worse than evil itself, that in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation. To be entertained is a passive state--it is to receive pleasure afforded by an amusing act or a spectacle.... Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions. Source: The Wisdom of Herschel

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

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

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

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

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

The primary purpose of prayer is not to make requests. The primary purpose is to praise, to sing, to chant. Because the essence of prayer is a song, and man cannot live without a song. Prayer may not save us. But prayer may make us worthy of being saved.

— Abraham Joshua Heschel