There is great power in asking yourself two questions:
1.What were my previous thoughts on this subject?
2. What new understanding have I now gained?
The best way to appreciate a virtue is to evaluate how things are without that virtue. As the Zohar comments: “we appreciate light most when we compare it with darkness.” ~ R’ Simcha Zissel of Ziv zt”l
Nature: Miracles that occur more often. ~ R’ Yerucham Levovitz zt”l
The best relationship between husband and wife will obtain when both achieve and practice the virtue of giving. Then their love will never cease and their lives will be filled with happiness and contentment for as long as they live on this earth. ~ R’ Eliyahu Dessler zt”l
Having good children is 50% prayer and 50% shalom bayis. ~ The Steipler Gaon
Note that the Shalah Hakadosh identifies three places in the morning tefilos where one should specifically daven for his or her children:
When you help someone whom others were unable to help, don’t say anything that would imply criticism of those other people. If the Almighty has given you wisdom that he did not give to others, do not boast about your knowledge, for it is a gift. ~ Ralbag
Gratitude is not just a nice gesture or a worthy personal quality. It is a real obligation like any other in the code of law. [Furthermore,] if you withhold it, you are a thief. ~ R’ Yerucham Levovitz zt”l
Always keep in mind that it is by summoning all your willpower – even when you think you don’t have any – to divert your mind from fantasies whenever they come that you give Hashem joy and cause Him to infuse you with His light of holiness. ~ R’ Simcha H. Benyosef in The Light of Ephraim
We create nothing new. All is within ourselves. We must draw it out. ~ Kotzker Rebbe zt”l
Emuna is the guideline, while bitachon is putting that awareness into action.
Emuna is like a tree and bitachon is similar to the fruit. The fruit is a sign of the tree [that it exists]. However, the tree is not a sign of the fruit since there are trees that do not bear fruit. Yet, there is no fruit without a tree. ~ Ramban
One with bitachon not only believes Hashem runs the world, but acts in conformance with that belief. ~ Praying with Fire 2
In the beginning of his career as a rabbi, Rabbi Naftoli of Ropshitz was once asked to speak when he was unprepared. He told his audience, “When delivering a lecture it is proper to state the truth, to speak concisely and the topic should be in reference to the weekly portion. I do not have anything to say on this week’s portion. This is true; it is concise; and it is a comment on the weekly portion.” ~ Ohel Naftoli as quoted by R’ Zellig Pliskin
