--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are eight rungs in charity. The…" description: "\"There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you help a man to help himself.\" — Maimonides" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/maimonides-2639_charity_there-are-eight-rungs-in-charity-the-hig_3132891.png" --- # There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you… ![“There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you help a man to help himself.” quote by Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/maimonides-2639_charity_there-are-eight-rungs-in-charity-the-hig_3132891.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/maimonides-2639_charity_there-are-eight-rungs-in-charity-the-hig_3132891.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/maimonides-2639_charity_there-are-eight-rungs-in-charity-the-hig_3132891.png) > “There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you help a man to help himself.” [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Helping others become self‑sufficient is the highest form of charity, empowering lasting independence. **In simple terms:** Empower others rather than just give. Key Takeaway Focus on teaching self‑reliance. Themes charity empowerment self‑reliance ethics Mood compassionate inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - community development - job training - financial literacy - mentorship - social work Key Concepts Altruism sustainability human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance immediate aid with long‑term empowerment? - What resources enable self‑help? A Different Perspective May overlook immediate needs of those unable to help themselves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) ## Related quotes > [There are eight levels of charity… The highest is when you strengthen a man's hand until he need no longer be dependent upon others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/there-are-eight-levels-of-charity-the-highest-is-when-you-strengthen/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The help which tends to make us spiritually strong is the highest help, next to it comes intellectual help and after that comes physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-help-which-tends-to-make-us-spiritually-strong-is-the-highest/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [God help the man who ever really loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/god-help-the-man-who-ever-really-loves-you/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“Help a man, a man helps you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny/help-a-man-a-man-helps-you/) [Jenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny/) > [And when I think about that, I think that if nothing but being married will help a man, he's durn nigh hopeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/and-when-i-think-about-that-i-think-that-if-nothing-but-being-married/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [If you do not help a man with his troubles, it is equivalent to bringing troubles to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nachman-of-breslov/if-you-do-not-help-a-man-with-his-troubles-it-is-equivalent-to/) [Nachman of Breslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nachman-of-breslov/) > [“You can't help a man who won't be helped. (p. 364)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-rickman-vantrease/you-can-t-help-a-man-who-won-t-be-helped-p-364/) [Brenda Rickman Vantrease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-rickman-vantrease/) > [If a woman straight forwardly asks a man for help, he generally doesn't help her, if she flirts, bats her eyelids and says, 'please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher-mazher50/if-a-woman-straight-forwardly-asks-a-man-for-help-he-generally-doesn/) Mazher (@mazher50 > [No man has a right to leave his wife to fight the battle alone if he is able to help. No man has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/no-man-has-a-right-to-leave-his-wife-to-fight-the-battle-alone-if-he/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“I made a mental note that if I ever needed help from a man I would make him a pie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/i-made-a-mental-note-that-if-i-ever-needed-help-from-a-man-i-would/) [beth hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/) > [Help the man-in-the-street make sense of the bewildering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-arthur/help-the-man-in-the-street-make-sense-of-the-bewildering/) [Owen Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-arthur/) > [If we do not help a man in trouble, it is as if we caused the trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nachman-of-breslov/if-we-do-not-help-a-man-in-trouble-it-is-as-if-we-caused-the-trouble/) [Nachman of Breslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nachman-of-breslov/) > [It is the writer's privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-the-writer-s-privilege-to-help-man-endure-by-lifting-his-heart/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [God help the next man I meet, I'm not sure he'll be able to put up with me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/god-help-the-next-man-i-meet-i-m-not-sure-he-ll-be-able-to-put-up/) [Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/) > [Whatever you do,you should do with all your heart.Heaven will help the man who is sincere,and one's fellowmen will trust him if he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucianism/whatever-you-do-you-should-do-with-all-your-heart-heaven-will-help/) CONFUCIANISM ## More by Maimonides > [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Hear the truth from whomever says it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/hear-the-truth-from-whomever-says-it/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [It is better and more satisfactory to acquit a thousand guilty persons than to put a single innocent one to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/it-is-better-and-more-satisfactory-to-acquit-a-thousand-guilty/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [God cannot be compared to anything. Note this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/god-cannot-be-compared-to-anything-note-this/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Even the existence of this corporeal element, low as it in reality is, because it is the source of death and all evils, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/even-the-existence-of-this-corporeal-element-low-as-it-in-reality-is/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [WHEN reading my present treatise, bear in mind that by "faith" we do not understand merely that which is uttered with the lips, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/when-reading-my-present-treatise-bear-in-mind-that-by-faith-we-do-not/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The philosophers likewise assume that in Nature there is nothing in vain, so that everything that is not the product of human industry serves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-philosophers-likewise-assume-that-in-nature-there-is-nothing-in/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [That which is produced with intention has passed over from non-existence to existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/that-which-is-produced-with-intention-has-passed-over-from-non/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [No form remains permanently in a substance; a constant change takes place, one form is taken off and another is put on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/no-form-remains-permanently-in-a-substance-a-constant-change-takes/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Further, there are things of which the mind understands one part, but remains ignorant of the other; and when man is able to comprehend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/further-there-are-things-of-which-the-mind-understands-one-part-but/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Now, we occupy a lowly position, both in space and rank in comparison with the heavenly sphere, and the Almighty is Most High not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/now-we-occupy-a-lowly-position-both-in-space-and-rank-in-comparison/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [If men possessed wisdom, which stands in the same relation to the form of man as the sight to the eye, they would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-men-possessed-wisdom-which-stands-in-the-same-relation-to-the-form/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-one-avoids-haughtiness-to-the-utmost-extent-and-is-exceedingly/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Know that the difficulties which lead to confusion in the question what is the purpose of the Universe or of any of its parts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/know-that-the-difficulties-which-lead-to-confusion-in-the-question/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [You will find that there is no other difference of opinion as regards any portions of the Universe, except that the philosophers believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/you-will-find-that-there-is-no-other-difference-of-opinion-as-regards/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) [Explore all 156 Maimonides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## More Charity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Considering community support and cost-benefit analysis, I have supported earmarks for projects of high public purpose involving such areas as higher education, alternative energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fortenberry/considering-community-support-and-cost-benefit-analysis-i-have/) [Jeff Fortenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fortenberry/) > [It's always great to be able to give back to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-vucevic/it-s-always-great-to-be-able-to-give-back-to-the-community/) [Nikola Vucevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-vucevic/) > [Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/slander-is-a-poison-which-kills-charity-both-in-the-slanderer-and-the/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [I like to give back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-like-to-give-back/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [We have to restore power to the family, to the neighborhood, and the community with a non-market principle, a principle of equality, of charity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-restore-power-to-the-family-to-the-neighborhood-and-the/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) [Browse all 2,477 Charity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are eight rungs in charity. 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