Toward a Meaningful Life Quotes

“A true leader does not seek followers; he wants to teach others how to be leaders. He does not want control; he wants the truth. He does not impose his leadership on others, nor does he take away anyone’s autonomy. He inspires by love, not coercion. When it comes time to take credit, he makes himself invisible; but he is the first to arrive at the time of need, and he will never shrink away in fear. He is so passionate about your welfare that when you consult him for guidance, it is like coming face to face with yourself for the first time.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“HOW DO YOU LIVE A MEANINGFUL DAY? When you awake in the morning, while you are still lying in bed, think for a moment: What does it mean to be awake and alive? Begin each day with a prayer; thank G-d for the new day. Acknowledge your soul and the vibrancy and fortitude it provides. Think about what you would like to accomplish that would make today a meaningful day. Train yourself to do this every morning and you will begin to see your life in a new, sharper focus.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“Wherever you go, whomever you meet, look for an opportunity to help, to inspire, to lend support.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“And ultimately, every effort does bear fruit.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“Yes, we do need love just as we need food and water, but there is a difference. Food and water are elements of the earth that sustain our physical bodies, whereas love is the language of G-d, which sustains our soul.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“On a sweltering summer day, an old man went down into a cool cellar for some relief. The moment he entered, he was blinded by the darkness. “Don’t worry,” said another man in the cellar, “it is natural that when you go from light to darkness, you’re unable to see. But soon enough, your eyes will grow accustomed to it, and you will hardly notice that it is dark.” “My dear friend,” replied the old man, turning to leave, “that is exactly what I am afraid of. Darkness is darkness; the danger is convincing yourself that it is light.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“Because so many of us take for granted the many wonders before our eyes, G-d does on occasion perform miracles to shake us from our reverie, to elevate us to a higher plane of awareness. Sometimes a miracle occurs to rescue us from a dire situation. Since G-d created the universe and its laws of nature, it would follow that He can alter or suspend these laws as He sees fit.4”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“The difference between a miracle and an act of nature is only in frequency.1 Imagine that the sun were to rise only once in our lifetime. Everyone would rush out to see it, proclaiming it a most miraculous event. But since we experience a sunrise every day, we see it as just another ordinary part of our lives.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“There are two ways to prevent a thief from pursuing his vocation,” he said. “One is by imprisoning him so he cannot go out and rob. But this doesn’t really correct the problem, because the thief remains a thief, and he will likely steal again once released. The second way is to rehabilitate the thief by teaching him how inappropriate it is for him to live this way. Teach him a respectable vocation and evoke in him a sense of pride and dignity that it is beneath him to stoop to being a thief. In the long term, it is always better to inspire rather than criticize, to encourage rather than demoralize.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“When teaching a child, or when you see a friend succumbing to selfishness, it may be tempting to reprimand him, to frighten him by warning of the terrible consequences that will surely befall him if he continues his behavior. But the positive approach is ultimately more successful. Tell the person about the goodness within him, of his pure soul and great potential; show what a great injustice he is committing by not living up to this potential. Such advice will foster confidence and pride, while a grave warning demoralizes a person and closes up his soul.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“Consider a teacher and his student. The teacher knows that the student has a less developed intellect, and that if he presents a concept on the level of his own comprehension, the student will only be confused. To introduce a new idea to the student, he condenses it and uses metaphors or parables to bring it within the student’s grasp.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“Unity is often confused with sameness. We may think that if everyone thought and acted the same, we would have perfect harmony. But unity is a process, whereas sameness is just a state of being. The same musical notes played again and again would be monotonous or irritating, but many different notes, each played differently, create a beautiful composition.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“The first step in escaping the darkness is acknowledging it; only then can you begin to reach out for the light.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“People could debate one another about G-d for their entire lives and never come to a conclusion, because they may all define G-d differently. Many who claim to reject G-d are actually rejecting a false definition of G-d; if they were presented with an accurate description, there might be no argument.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“Seek guidance in the texts studied by our ancestors. One by one, start eliminating the little evils in your life: envy, anger, hate, gossip, slander, and all other pettiness to which we often succumb.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“A true leader wants nothing more than to give people pride, to make people stand on their own, as leaders in their own right. Instead of trying to blind us with his or her brilliance, a true leader reflects our own light back to us, so that we may see ourselves anew.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“Clearly, a child who is brought up without fear and respect for G-d in his heart will have no fear or respect for any authority—his parents, his teachers, law enforcement officers. He must learn to accept the concept of a divine moral code that we all must obey. He must realize that the laws of man are rooted in something far more eternal: the Ten Commandments.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“When it is very cold, there are two ways to warm yourself. One is by putting on a fur coat, the other is by lighting a fire. The difference is that the fur coat warms only the person wearing it, while the fire warms anyone who comes near.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“When you awake in the morning, while you are still lying in bed, think for a moment: What does it mean to be awake and alive? Begin each day with a prayer; thank G-d for the new day. Acknowledge your soul and the vibrancy and fortitude it provides. Think about what you would like to accomplish that would make today a meaningful day.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“You must remember that there is nothing on this earth to fear, for G-d is always with you, and by following His instructions, you open the channels for His blessings.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“As the sages say, “May you fear G-d as much as you fear man.”3 “Fear of G-d” is not actually fear at all, but an awe and respect for a higher presence in your life—and a recognition that G-d chose you to fill a specific role in refining this world. When you feel despondent or afraid, contemplate this point; when you fear that you won’t be able to handle a particular challenge or a setback, think about what G-d wants of you.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“You must not compromise your values and standards out of fear of how others will perceive you. This is one of the most difficult challenges in life, for we all want to be loved and accepted. But accepted by whom? By people whose own standards are ever shifting? By people who themselves are worried about being accepted by yet others? The only person on earth you need to be accepted by is yourself. You achieve this by integrating G-d into your life, which means devoting yourself to the purpose for which you were created.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“FEAR AND ANXIETY The Enemies Within I am confident and shall not fear, for G-d is my strength and song, and He has been a help to me. —Isaiah 12:1 Think good and it will be good. —The Rebbe”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“You must recognize that pain can cleanse you, just as a mother swabs her child’s cut with alcohol. Surely she does not wish to cause further pain, but she knows it is necessary to properly heal the wound.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“Deep in our hearts, we are all aware of this connection. Any thinking person who contemplates the solar system, for example, or the complexities of an atom, must come to the conclusion that our universe did not come about by some freak accident. Nor is it composed merely of physical matter; every fiber of being is pulsating with energy. Wherever we turn, we see design and purpose—the hallmark of our creator.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“So there are two vastly divergent views on aging—that is, “You are old and worn out, thus useless” versus “You are wise and experienced, thus indispensable.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“man is composed of two dimensions, the body and the soul. The body, by its nature, grows weary, and needs to rest. The soul, on the other hand, never grows weary; it is the vibrant soul that pushes you to work even when your body itself would rather languish and be cared for by someone else.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“The drive to work and to accomplish is an integral part of human life. As the sages say, “Every person was created to toil.”1 A person cannot be satisfied if he or she is not productive. Human nature detests receiving something for nothing—“bread of shame” is how it is described by the sages.2”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“A Sound Soul in a Sound Body One has no right to harm his body, for it is not his property, but G-d’s. —Code of Jewish Law A sound and healthy body is dependent on a sound and healthy soul. —The Rebbe”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

“The message children should be hearing from their parents is: “Respect me not because I am so great, but because of G-d. Just as G-d gave me life through your grandparents, G-d gave you life through me.”
― Simon Jacobson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson