"When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people"
- Abraham Joshua Heschel
About this Quote
This quote by Abraham Joshua Heschel talks to the significance of kindness over cleverness. As a young adult, Heschel was most likely drawn to those who were intelligent and had a sharp wit. However, as he grew older, he realized that compassion was a much more important quality. He concerned comprehend that intelligence and cleverness can be used for both excellent and bad, but generosity is always a favorable force. Generosity is a quality that can bring individuals together, construct relationships, and create a more harmonious world. Heschel's quote is a pointer that we must all make every effort to be kind and compassionate, instead of just smart. Compassion is a quality that will always be valued and admired.