The camel wanted to have horns, and they took away his ears.
The soldiers fight, and the kings are the heroes.
He in whose family there has been one hanged should not say to his neighbour, Pray hang this little fish up for me.
The cock and the owl both await the daylight. The light, says the cock, brings delight to me; but what are _you_ waiting for?
When the thief has no opportunity for stealing, he considers himself an honest man.
If thy friends agree in calling thee an ass, go and get a halter round thee.
He who is ashamed will not easily commit sin. There is a great difference between him who is ashamed before his own self, and him who is only ashamed before others. It is a good sign in man to be capable of being ashamed. One contrition in man's heart is better than many flagellations.
How can you escape sin? Think of three things,--whence thou camest, whither thou goest, and to whom thou wilt have to account for all thy deeds,--even to the King of kings, the All-holy, praised be He.
Love your wife like yourself, honour her more than yourself. Whosoever lives unmarried lives without joy, without comfort, without blessing. Descend a step in choosing a wife. If thy wife is small, bend down to her and whisper into her ear. He who forsakes the love of his youth, GOD'S altar weeps for him. He who sees his wife die before him, has, as it were, been present at the destruction of the sanctuary itself, around him the world grows dark. It is woman alone through whom GOD'S blessings are vouchsafed to a house. She teaches the children, speeds the husband to the place of worship and instruction, welcomes him when he returns, keeps the house godly and pure, and GOD'S blessings rest upon all these things. He who marries for money, his children shall be a curse to him.
After the thief runs the theft; after the beggar, poverty.
When the ox is down, many are the butchers.
If you wish to hang yourself, choose a big tree.
When the pitcher falls upon the stone, woe unto the pitcher; when the stone falls upon the pitcher, woe unto the pitcher; whatever befalls, woe unto the pitcher.
Youth is a garland of roses, age a crown of thorns.
Be thou the cursed, not he who curses. Be of them that are persecuted, not of them that persecute. Look at Scripture, there is not a single bird more persecuted than the dove, yet GOD has chosen her to be offered up on His altar. The bull is hunted by the lion, the sheep by the wolf, the goat by the tiger. And GOD said, "Bring Me a sacrifice not from them that persecute, but from them that are persecuted."