Bahya ibn Paquda Quotes
Bahya ibn Paquda was an Andalusian Jewish philosopher and rabbinic judge whose Duties of the Heart, written in Judeo-Arabic in the late eleventh century, became the first major work of Jewish moral and devotional philosophy. Drawing on Sufi sources as well as on the Bible and the Talmud, he distinguished between the duties of the limbs, the outward observances of religion, and the duties of the heart, the interior commitments of love, trust, humility, and devotion to God. The quotes below are attributed to Bahya ibn Paquda, organized by topic.
Bahya ibn Paquda on God
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Attributed to Bahya ibn Paquda:
“The gates of heaven are opened by the prayers of a sincere heart.”
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Attributed to Bahya ibn Paquda:
“Trust in God means relying on him for everything, while still attending to your own labor.”
Bahya ibn Paquda on Mind
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Attributed to Bahya ibn Paquda:
“Examine your inner life every day, before you close your eyes for sleep.”
Bahya ibn Paquda on Time
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Attributed to Bahya ibn Paquda:
“Days are scrolls; write on them only what you want remembered.”
Bahya ibn Paquda on Virtue
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Attributed to Bahya ibn Paquda:
“Humility is the foundation upon which every other virtue stands.”