Man's shortcomings and sins are all due to substance of the body and not to its form, while all his merits are exclusively due to his form.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that physical attributes do not determine a person's worth, but rather their character and intentions do.
Maimonides highlights the distinction between the physical body and the intrinsic qualities of a person, asserting that flaws and mistakes stem from bodily weaknesses while virtues and merits arise from one's deeper essence. This reflects a philosophical view that emphasizes the importance of inner qualities over external appearances.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about personal growth.
If men possessed wisdom, which stands in the same relation to the form of man as the sight to the eye, they would not cause any injury to themselves or to others; for the knowledge of truth removes hatred and quarrels, and prevents mutual injuries.
There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you help a man to help himself.
God who preceded all existence is a refuge.
When man possesses a good, sound body that does not overpower him nor disturb the equilibrium in him, he possesses a divine gift. In short, a good constitution facilitates the rule of the soul over the body, but it is not impossible to conquer a bad constitution by training.
If the whole earth is infinitely small in comparison with the sphere of the stars, what is man compared with all these created beings!
One should see the world, and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil. When he does one good deed the scale is tipped to the good - he and the world is saved. When he does one evil deed the scale is tipped to the bad - he and the world is destroyed.
The beautiful souls are they that are universal, open, and ready for all things.
States organized for war will make war as surely as hens will lay eggs.
I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor.
But when one believes in the reality of things, making them visible by artificial means is not quite the same as feeling that they are close at hand.
It is computed that eleven thousand persons have at several times suffered death rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end.
To get rid of an enemy one must love him.
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