Cecil Roth quotes

“The preservation of the Jew was certainly not casual. He has endured through the power of a certain ideal, based on the recognition of a Higher Power in human affairs. Time after time in his history, moreover, he has been saved from disaster in a manner, which cannot be described excepting as 'providential.' The author has deliberately attempted to write this book in a secular spirit; he does not think that his readers can fail to see in it, on every page, a higher immanence”
-- Cecil Roth

Source : Cecil Roth (1935). “A Bird's-eye View of Jewish History”, Cincinatti : Department of Synagogue and School Extension of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations

#Book Quotes #Writing Quotes #Thinking Quotes

“Before Ben-Yehuda... Jews could speak Hebrew; after him they did.”
-- Cecil Roth

#Hebrew Quotes #Speak Quotes #Jew Quotes

“The legendary missionary journey of St. Paul, which led to the foundation of the British church, presupposes the existence of a Jewish community - always the initial object of his propaganda - even before the capture of Jerusalem by Titus in the year 70.”
-- Cecil Roth

Source : "A History of the Jews in England". Book by Cecil Roth, 3rd edition, p. 1, 1964.

#Journey Quotes #Years Quotes #Community Quotes

“Nature is a book of many pages and each page tells a fascinating story to him who learns her language. Our fertile valleys and craggy mountains recite an epic poem of geologic conflicts. The starry sky reveal gigantic suns and space and time without end.”

“Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired (by passionate devotion to them) produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can peradventure read is nothing less than the soul reaching towards infinity ... we cherish books even if unread, their mere presence exudes comfort, their ready access, reassurance.”

“In very clear and available language, this book details how to recognize the inner critic and how to deal effectively with it. Byron Brown's presentation is useful for any individual who wishes to be free from the inner suffering and coercion of this ancient foe of our humanity, but it is specifically directed to those interested and engaged in the inner journey toward realization and enlightenment.”

“This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated, if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it.”

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

“Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn't.”

“The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.”

“Fear is born of Satan, and if we would only take time to think a moment we would see that everything Satan says is founded upon a falsehood.”

“I don't think that when Zionism began there was a claim that we were losing - even in part - our capacity to contribute to other peoples.”

“I think I feel rather differently about sympathy to what seems the normal view. I like just to feel it is there, but not always expressed.”