Hillel

Hillel the Elder (c. 110 BC – c. AD 10) was a Jewish religious leader, sage and scholar, born in Babylon under Parthian Empire and died in Jerusalem under Roman Judea. He was associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud in Judaism, and was the founder of the House of Hillel school of tannaim, which dominated Jewish thought for centuries. His teachings emphasized leniency and compassion.

Wisdom & Quotes

• A name made great is a name destroyed. He who does not increase his knowledge decreases it.

– Pirkei Avot 1:13

• If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?

- Pirkei Avot 1:14

• Do not say "When I have leisure, I will study", perhaps you will not have leisure.

– Pirkei Avot 2:4

• A savage cannot be sin-fearing, an ignoramus cannot be pious, a bashful one cannot learn, a short-tempered person cannot teach, nor does anyone who does much business grow wise.

– Pirkei Avot 2:5

• In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.

– Pirkei Avot 2:5

• One who increases flesh, increases worms; one who increases possessions, increases worry; one who increases wives, increases witchcraft; one who increases maidservants, increases promiscuity; one who increases man-servants, increases thievery; one who increases Torah, increases life; one who increases study, increases wisdom; one who increases counsel, increases understanding; one who increases charity, increases peace.

– Pirkei Avot 2:7

• That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary. Go and study it.

- Babylonian Talmud, tractate Shabbat 31a. See also the Ethic of Reciprocity or The Golden Rule

• Whosoever destroys one soul, it is as though he had destroyed the entire world. And whosoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved the entire world.

Horace