You should recognize that man’s soul, this single entity whose powers and parts we have described, may be compared to matter, and that the power of reasoning is its completed form. As long as the soul lies dormant and does not acquire its form from knowledge, then the nature of the soul is useless and exists in vain. Maimonides
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You should recognize that man’s soul, this single entity whose powers and parts we have described, may be compared to matter, and that the power of reasoning is its completed form. As long as the soul lies dormant and does not acquire its form from knowledge, then the nature of the soul is useless and exists in vain. This quote from Aristotle makes a point that is often overlooked by those who try to understand their own spirituality. To reach enlightenment, it is essential to understand what you believe in order to become enlightened.

Source: Rambam: Shemonah Perakim, The Eight Chapters; Maimonides Introduction To Ethics Of The Fathers; Perek Chelek; Discourse On The World To Come

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More Quotes By Maimonides
  1. Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it.

  2. You must accept the truth from whatever source it comes.

  3. For the elements have the property of moving back to their place in a straight line, but they have no properties which would cause them to remain where they are, or to move other-wise than in a straight line, These rectilinear motions of these four...

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