Who said “If one man says to thee, ''Thou art a donkey,'' pay no heed. If two speak thus, purchase…”?

Paraphrased

The Talmud, in different words: the idea is theirs, but this popular wording has been altered from the original.

SourceBabylonian Talmud, Bava Kamma 92b; cf. Bereshit Rabbah 45:7

Evidence: sefaria.org · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“If one man says to thee, ''Thou art a donkey,'' pay no heed. If two speak thus, purchase a saddle.”
— The Talmud
Original (Aramaic), Bava Kamma 92b

חברך קרייך חמרא אוכפא לגביך מוש

Text: Wikisource Talmud Bavli via Sefaria (CC-BY-SA)

ParaphrasedBabylonian Talmud, Bava Kamma 92b; cf. Bereshit Rabbah 45:7 · evidenceAdvice
Report

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Kamma 92b; cf. Bereshit Rabbah 45:7.

APA

The Talmud (n.d.). If one man says to thee, ''Thou art a donkey,'' pay no heed. If two speak thus, purchase a saddle. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4408-if-one-man-says-to-thee-thou-art/

MLA

The Talmud. “If one man says to thee, ''Thou art a donkey,'' pay no heed. If two speak thus, purchase a saddle.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4408-if-one-man-says-to-thee-thou-art/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

The Talmud. “If one man says to thee, ''Thou art a donkey,'' pay no heed. If two speak thus, purchase a saddle.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4408-if-one-man-says-to-thee-thou-art/.

Related quotes

“These words dropped into my childish mind as if you should accidentally drop a ring into a deep well. I did not think of them much at the time, but there came a day in my life when the ring was fished up out of the well, good as new.”
— Harriet Beecher Stowe
VerifiedOld Town Folks (1869) Ch. 25. · evidenceDetails & citeAdvice
Report

More quotes by The Talmud

“Who is wise? One who learns from all.”
Original (Hebrew), Pirkei Avot 4:1

אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם, הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם

Text: Torat Emet via Sefaria (public domain)

VerifiedMishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:1 (Ben Zoma) · evidenceDetails & citeWisdom
Report
“Who is a wise man? He who learns of all men.”
Original (Hebrew), Pirkei Avot 4:1

אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם, הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם

Text: Torat Emet via Sefaria (public domain)

VerifiedMishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:1 (Ben Zoma) · evidenceDetails & citeWisdom
Report
“This is the punishment of a liar: he is not believed, even when he speaks the truth.”
Original (Hebrew), Sanhedrin 89b

כך עונשו של בדאי שאפילו אמר אמת אין שומעין לו

Text: Wikisource Talmud Bavli via Sefaria (CC-BY-SA)

VerifiedBabylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 89b (Abraham to Satan) · evidenceDetails & citeLies and Lying
Report
“Everyone whose deeds are more than his wisdom, his wisdom endures; and everyone whose wisdom is more than his deeds, his wisdom does not endure.”
Original (Hebrew), Pirkei Avot 3:9

כָּל שֶׁמַּעֲשָׂיו מְרֻבִּין מֵחָכְמָתוֹ, חָכְמָתוֹ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת. וְכָל שֶׁחָכְמָתוֹ מְרֻבָּה מִמַּעֲשָׂיו, אֵין חָכְמָתוֹ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת

Text: Torat Emet via Sefaria (public domain)

VerifiedMishnah, Pirkei Avot 3:9 (R. Hanina ben Dosa) · evidenceDetails & citeDeeds and Good Deeds
Report
“No labor, however humble, is dishonoring.”
Original (Hebrew), Nedarim 49b

גדולה מלאכה שמכבדת את בעליה

Text: Wikisource Talmud Bavli via Sefaria (CC-BY-SA)

ParaphrasedBabylonian Talmud, Nedarim 49b (R. Yehuda and R. Shimon) · evidenceDetails & citeWork
Report
“The end result of wisdom is... good deeds.”
Original (Hebrew), Berakhot 17a

תכלית חכמה תשובה ומעשים טובים

Text: Wikisource Talmud Bavli via Sefaria (CC-BY-SA)

ParaphrasedBabylonian Talmud, Berakhot 17a (Rava): 'repentance and good deeds' · evidenceDetails & citeWisdom
Report
All 21 The Talmud quotes →