The Talmud, in different words: the idea is theirs, but this popular wording has been altered from the original.
SourceJerusalem Talmud, Kiddushin 4:12 (R. Hizkiah in the name of Rav)
Evidence: sefaria.org · How we check
Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction
“A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not.”
עָתִיד אָדָם לִיתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן עַל כָּל מַה שֶׁרָאָת עֵינוֹ וְלֹא אָכַל
Text: Jerusalem Talmud, ed. Heinrich W. Guggenheimer, via Sefaria (CC-BY)
The Talmud (n.d.). A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/827-a-person-will-be-called-to-account-on/
The Talmud. “A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/827-a-person-will-be-called-to-account-on/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
The Talmud. “A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/827-a-person-will-be-called-to-account-on/.