Quotes

“No matter how bad things get you got to go on living, even if it kills you.” Sholem Aleichem

“Gossip is nature's telephone.” Sholem Aleichem

“The rich swell up with pride, the poor from hunger.” Sholem Aleichem

“They say that children become men, and men become children. Many generations have grown up, become men, and gone hence.” Sholem Aleichem

“A cantor, when he starts singing, it's like rain - once it starts, it's hard to stop.” Sholem Aleichem

“A real pleasure is a pleasure that one enjoys by one's self, without a companion, and without a single argument.” Sholem Aleichem

“Ah, how many luxuries has the good God prepared for his Jewish children.” Sholem Aleichem

“Here lies a plain and simple Jew who wrote in plain and simple prose.” Sholem Aleichem

“No one knows whom the shoe pinches - no one.” Sholem Aleichem

“When have you ever heard of a cantor or any artist turning anyone down when he is strongly urged to perform?” Sholem Aleichem

“You can take a Jew out of a shtetl, but you cannot take a shtetl out of a Jew.” Sholem Aleichem

“There are people who have never been taught anything, and know everything, have never been anywhere, and understand everything, have never given a moment's thought to anything, and comprehend everything. 'Blessed hands' is the name bestowed on these fortunate beings. The world envies, honours and respects them.” Sholem Aleichem

“It is an old custom amongst Jewish children, to become war-like on the 'L'ag Beomer.' They arm themselves from head to foot with wooden swords, pop-guns and bows and arrows. They take food with them, and go off to wage war.” Sholem Aleichem

“One cannot live on potatoes alone. It is said that one wants bread with potatoes. And when there's no bread, a Jew takes his stick, and goes through the village in search of business.” Sholem Aleichem

“Playing nuts is a game like any other, neither better than tops, nor worse than cards. The game is played in various ways. There are 'holes' and 'bank' and 'caps.' But every game finishes up in the same way. One boy loses, another wins. And, as always, he who wins is a clever fellow, a smart fellow, a good fellow.” Sholem Aleichem

“Remember, you must not sleep at the Seder. If you do, Elijah the Prophet will come with a bag on his shoulders. On the two first nights of Passover, Elijah the Prophet goes about looking for those who have fallen asleep at the Seder, and takes them away in his bag.” Sholem Aleichem

“To go to the synagogue with one's father on the Passover eve - is there in the world a greater pleasure than that? What is it worth to be dressed in new clothes from head to foot, and to show off before one's friends? Then the prayers themselves - the first Festival evening prayer and blessing.” Sholem Aleichem

“Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.” Josh Billings

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.” Josh Billings

“Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there.” Josh Billings

“There are lots of people who mistake their imagination for their memory.” Josh Billings

“There are some people so addicted to exaggeration that they can't tell the truth without lying.” Josh Billings

“There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” Josh Billings

“Love looks through a telescope; envy, through a microscope.” Josh Billings

“Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.” Josh Billings

“There are two kinds of fools: those who can't change their opinions and those who won't.” Josh Billings

“Honesty is the rarest wealth anyone can possess, and yet all the honesty in the world ain't lawful tender for a loaf of bread.” Josh Billings

“Marrying for love may be a bit risky, but it is so honest that God can't help but smile on it.” Josh Billings

“The best time for you to hold your tongue is the time you feel you must say something or bust.” Josh Billings

“The wheel that squeaks the loudest is the one that gets the grease.” Josh Billings