The very word ‘disappears’ implies that the universe is, so to speak, finite, and that it is possible to leave it. But no-o-othing (he deliberately drew the word out) can ever leave the universe. And...
The real tragedy of humankind,’ Shealtiel used to say, ‘is not that the persecuted and enslaved crave to be liberated and to hold their heads high. No. The worst thing is that the enslaved secretly dr...
The Gentiles used to say about us: the diploma—that's the Jews' religion. Not money, not gold. The diploma.
Success flows from perspiration, and inspiration from diligence and effort.
She exuded abundant joie de vivre. Her joy was unconfined and unrestrained, it had no rhyme or reason, no grounds or motive, nothing had to happen to make her overflow with jollity. Of course, I somet...
Personally I do not believe in world reform. No. I do not believe in any kind of world reform. Not because I consider that the world is perfect as it is—certainly not, the world is crooked and grim an...
No man is an island, said John Donne, but I humbly dare to add: No man or woman is an island, but every one of us is a peninsula, half attached to the mainland, half facing the ocean – one half connec...
Jednom sam ga sreo pred alatnicom. Pitao sam ga što to čita. Slegao je ramenima i neodlučno mi odgovorio: Knjigu. Zašto pitaš?Pitao sam ga kakvu knjigu čita.O jeziku.Što konkretno?Gramatiku za svakoga...
Il faut regarder la souffrance en face. S'il était Premier ministre, il obligerait les membres du gouvernement à passer une semaine dans une base de réservistes de Gaza ou d'Hébron, ou dans une maison...
Feelings are just a fire in a field of stubble: it burns for a moment, and then all that’s left is soot and ashes. Do you know what the main thing is—the thing a woman should look for in her man? She...
Cat de mult seamana viata din zilele noastre cu un bal mizerabil: un pic de lumina, un pic de muzica, putin dans, apoi intuneric. Priveste. Luminile au fost deja stinse, resturile de mancare au fost d...
Никога не бих излязъл на бойното поле - предпочитам да лежа в затвора - в името на териториалното разширяване на родината ми. Не бих воювал за допълнителна стая за народа ми. Не бих воювал за Светите...
With his legs apart, leaning on an old Czech rifle. He was smoking the dog end of a cigarette, and when he saw Shmuel and Atalia he spoke without removing it: Closed. No entry. Why? Atalia laughed. Th...
Only until the children are born. Your life is your own only for a short time:
A prominent israeli writer, sami michael, once told of a long car journey with a driver. At some point, the driver explained to Michael how important, indeed how urgent, it is for us Jews to kill all...
That’s how God created us: wealth is a crime and poverty is a punishment, though the punishment is not given to the one who sinned, but to the one who hasn’t got the money to escape the punishment. Th...
Tell me, is it true there's no word for Schadenfreude in English?
Sounds of four o’clock in the morning come to him through the window: the swish of a sprinkler on the lawn, broken cries of alarm from a parked car that can no longer bear its loneliness, the low weep...
Os israelenses discutem, eu discuto. E ainda assim sou eu quem me levanto toda manhã, faço uma pequena caminhada no deserto, faço uma xícara de café, sento em minha escrivaninha e começo a perguntar-m...
Many a wise man lacks for sense, Many a fool has a heart of gold, Happiness often ends in tears, But what’s inside can never be told.