Tales of the Hasidim, Vols 1-2 Quotes

“If a man wishes to guide the people in his house the right way, he must not grow angry at them. For anger does not only make one’s soul impure; it transfers impurity to the souls of those with whom one is angry.”
― Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim

“By the term short story I mean the recital of a destiny which is represented in a single incident; by anecdote the recital of a single incident which illumines an entire destiny.”
― Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim

“And how shall we be able to tell whether he is a true zaddik?” The Baal Shem replied. “Ask him to advise you what to do to keep unholy thoughts from disturbing you in your prayers and studies. If he gives you advice, then you will know that he belongs to those who are of no account. For this is the service of men in the world to the very hour of their death; to struggle time after time with the extraneous, and time after time to uplift and fit it into the nature of the Divine Name.”
― Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim

“In order to speak to the world what I have heard, I am not bound to step into the street. I may remain standing in the door of my ancestral house. …”
― Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim

“The Two Caps Rabbi David Moshe, the son of the rabbi of Rizhyn, once said to a hasid: “You knew my father when he lived in Sadagora and was already wearing the black cap and going his way in dejection; but you did not see him when he lived in Rizhyn and was still wearing his golden cap.” The hasid was astonished. “How is it possible that the holy man from Rizhyn ever went his way in dejection! Did not I myself hear him say that dejection is the lowest condition!” “And after he had reached the summit,” Rabbi David replied, “he had to descend to that condition time and again in order to redeem the souls which had sunk down to it.”
― Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim

“Rabbi Heshel said: “A man should be like a vessel that willingly receives what its owner pours into it, whether it be wine or vinegar.”
― Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim

“If you cannot get across it, you must get across it, nevertheless.”
― Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim

“The legendary anecdote goes one stop beyond: the single incident in question conveys the meaning of life.”
― Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim

“Aller Widersinn, mit dem die Welt dich kränkt, tritt dich an, damit du den Sinn in ihm entdeckst, und aller Widerspruch, der in dir selbst dich peinigt, wartet auf deinen Spruch, ihn zu bannen.”
― Martin Buber, Die Erzählungen der Chassidim