Martin Buber
1878-1965 • Austrian-Israeli
Jewish Mysticism
Jewish philosopher known for I and Thou and his collections of Hasidic tales. Taught that the divine is found in authentic encounter.
Key Works
- I and Thou
- Tales of the Hasidim
- The Way of Man
104
quotes in library
Quotes by Martin Buber
104 quotes“Do not envy another's.”
envyThe Way of Man
“Do not imitate another's.”
imitationThe Way of Man
“Be true to your own.”
truthThe Way of Man
“This is the deepest moral imperative.”
moralThe Way of Man (paraphrase)
“In the I-It mode, the world is an object I use.”
I-ItI and Thou
“In the I-Thou mode, the world is a presence I meet.”
I-ThouI and Thou
“The I-Thou is necessary for love, prayer, and meaning.”
I-ThouI and Thou
“Without I-It, no civilization. Without I-Thou, no humanity.”
civilizationI and Thou (paraphrase)
“Most of life is necessarily I-It.”
lifeI and Thou
“But the moments of I-Thou are what give life its meaning.”
I-ThouI and Thou
“Cultivate the I-Thou moments.”
cultivationI and Thou (paraphrase)
“They cannot be willed. But they can be invited.”
willI and Thou (paraphrase)
“Invite them through attention, openness, and love.”
invitationI and Thou (paraphrase)
“Sometimes through a face. Sometimes through a tree. Sometimes through silence.”
faceI and Thou (paraphrase)
“In every Thou, the Eternal Thou.”
thouI and Thou
“This is the bridge between human relationship and the religious life.”
bridgeI and Thou (paraphrase)
“They are the same activity at different depths.”
relationshipI and Thou (paraphrase)
“The eclipse of God is not a metaphysical event.”
eclipseThe Eclipse of God
“It is a human one. We are no longer able to enter into the I-Thou with the Eternal.”
eclipseThe Eclipse of God
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