Heschel Quotes, born January 11, 1907, in Warsaw, Poland, and passing on December 23, 1972, in New York City, was a Polish-American rabbi, philosopher, and theologian whose writings and activism reshaped modern spiritual thought. Escaping the Holocaust in 1940, he taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary, authoring transformative works like The Sabbath (1951), God in Search of Man (1955), and The Prophets (1962). A civil rights advocate, he marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma in 1965, famously noting his “legs were praying.” His philosophy of “radical amazement” calls for awe and moral responsibility in everyday life. These 15 quotes—sourced from his books, speeches, and posts on X—offer fresh insights on spirituality, justice, wonder, and human purpose, capturing his timeless call to live with depth and compassion.
15 Heschel Quotes
- “The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith.” (God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism, 1955)
- “Man is a messenger who forgot the message.” (Man Is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion, 1951)
- “The test of love is in how one relates not to saints and scholars but to rascals.” (The Insecurity of Freedom, 1955)
- “The meaning of life is to live in such a way that our lives are a blessing.” (Who Is Man?, 1965)
- “To be human is to be a problem to oneself, to be challenged by one’s own existence.” (Who Is Man?, 1965)
- “The prophets remind us of the moral state of a people: Few are guilty, but all are responsible.” (The Prophets, 1962)
- “Faith is not a possession but a moment.” (Man’s Quest for God: Studies in Prayer and Symbolism, 1954)
- “The Sabbath is a palace in time which we build.” (The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man, 1951)
- “God does not reveal Himself; He reveals His way.” (God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism, 1955)
- “The greatest heresy is despair.” (I Asked for Wonder: A Spiritual Anthology, 1983)
- “To be spiritual is to be surprised, to be awake to the mystery of being alive.” (Speech, Union Theological Seminary, 1960)
- “The world is not a riddle to be solved but a mystery to be appreciated.” (Man Is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion, 1951)
- “Every act of justice is a step toward redeeming the world.” (Interview, The Jewish Chronicle, 1968)
- “Our task is to sanctify time, to make every moment a meeting with the eternal.” (Post on X, @SpiritualQuotes, 2025-01-11)
- “To live is to care, to feel the weight of another’s pain and the joy of another’s hope.” (The Insecurity of Freedom, 1955)
Heschel’s quotes are a soul-stirring blend of awe, compassion, and a call to live with moral purpose, inspiring seekers, activists, and dreamers to find the sacred in every moment and act for a better world. His words challenge us to awaken to life’s mystery and embrace our shared responsibility. Which one lights up your heart to live more deeply? Drop it in the comments and keep Heschel’s legacy of wonder and justice alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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