Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–72) was a Polish-born American theologian, educator, and philosopher who sought to build a modern philosophy of religion on the basis of ancient and medieval Jewish tradition. Among other posts, he held the chair of professor of Jewish ethics and mysticism at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, New York City. Heschel is widely considered to be one of the greatest American religious figures of the last century.
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Racism is man’s gravest threat to man–the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel
When I was young, I admired clever people.
Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
—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
Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel
No man is sterile. Every soul is pregnant with the seed of insight. It is vague and hidden. In some people the seed grows, in others it decays. Some give birth to life. Others miscarry it. Some know how to bear, to nurse, to rear an insight that comes into being. Others do not … .
—Abraham Joshua Heschel
Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel
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