Dry-wit Quote by Shuli Barzilai
““There are four on whose pots the Holy One, blessed he, knocked, only to find them filled with piss, and these are they: Adam, Cain, the wicked Balaam, and Hezekiah." Again, an abrupt transposition from the divine to the domestic, from upper to lowly spheres, occurs in the midrash. The homely image of the Holy One knocking on pots apparently derives from the practice of tapping on a clay or earthen pot to hear its ring in order to decide if it is worthy of holding wine. In current Hebrew usage, the expression 'to assess or gauge someone's pot' still denotes taking in the measure of a person's character. From Adam's answer to God, we learn that he turned out to be a pisspot.””
About This Quote
Source Midrash: Talmudic commentary, unknown date
The passage uses a vivid metaphor of divine testing to illustrate how even revered figures can be morally flawed, likening their character to a pot filled with waste.
In simple terms: Even holy figures can be morally corrupt.
Key Takeaway
Judge character beyond appearances.
Themes
morality
religion
human nature
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
interpretive
analytical
When to use this quote
- theological study
- ethical reflection
- personal judgment
Key Concepts
divine testing
character assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we discern true character?
- What does “pisspot” symbolize?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex moral narratives.
![“While I deplored and denounced the incivilities of Quakerism in my day (such as the going naked in public by some at sundry times), my position regarding their religious views was, "They will answer to God, at their own peril, in the great day approaching [that is, the day of divine judgment]."” quote by Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e00/roger-williams-11064_answers_while-i-deplored-and-denounced-the-inciv_2157142.jpg)
![“As Atwood concludes after a random and informal sampling, men and women differ markedly in the 'scope of their threatenability': 'Why do men feel threatened by woman?' I asked a male friend of mine…'[M]en are bigger, most of the time...and they have on the average a lot more money and power.'…” quote by Shuli Barzilai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/264/shuli-barzilai-69640_gender_as-atwood-concludes-after-a-random-and-i_938427.jpg)
