Balance Quote by Maimonides
“One should see the world, and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil. When he does one good deed the scale is tipped to the good - he and the world is saved. When he does one evil deed the scale is tipped to the bad - he and the world is destroyed.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Guide for the Perplexed, 1190
Human actions tilt a moral balance; good deeds lift both self and world, evil deeds drag both down.
In simple terms: Good deeds help all; evil deeds harm all.
Key Takeaway
Choose good to uplift yourself and others.
Themes
morality
balance
consequence
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal decision
- community service
- leadership
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
ethics
dualism
responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your daily choice affect the larger world?
- Can one act good without harming others?
A Different Perspective
Even good deeds can be outweighed by larger systemic evils.
![“[T]he scale of a man's evil is not entirely to be measured by its practical consequences. Men commit evil within the scope available to them.” quote by Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f63/theodore-dalrymple-7084_evil_t-he-scale-of-a-man-s-evil-is-not-entire_1381174.jpg)
![“WHEN reading my present treatise, bear in mind that by "faith" we do not understand merely that which is uttered with the lips, but also that which is apprehended by the soul, the conviction that the object [of belief] is exactly as it is apprehended. If, as regards real or supposed truths, you…” quote by Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fbb/maimonides-2639_articles_when-reading-my-present-treatise-bear-in_78488.jpg)
