Quotes from book
I and Thou

Martin BuberOriginal title Ich und Du (German, 1923)

Ich und Du, usually translated as I and Thou , is a book by Martin Buber, published in 1923, and first translated from German to English in 1937.


Martin Buber photo
Martin Buber photo

“All real living is meeting.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

Variant translationː All actual life is encounter.
Variant: All real life is meeting.
Source: I and Thou (1923)

Martin Buber photo

“Mundus vult decipi: the world wants to be deceived.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

Source: I and Thou

Martin Buber photo
Martin Buber photo

“An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

I and Thou (1923)

Martin Buber photo
Martin Buber photo

“Persons appear by entering into relation to other persons.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

Person erscheint, indem sie zu andern Personen in Beziehung tritt.
I and Thou (1923)

Martin Buber photo
Martin Buber photo

“Egos appear by setting themselves apart from other egos.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

I and Thou (1923)

Martin Buber photo

“Through the Thou a person becomes I.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

I and Thou (1923)

Martin Buber photo
Martin Buber photo
Martin Buber photo

“Some would deny any legitimate use of the word God because it has been misused so much. Certainly it is the most burdened of all human words. Precisely for that reason it is the most imperishable and unavoidable.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

I and Thou (1923)
Context: Some would deny any legitimate use of the word God because it has been misused so much. Certainly it is the most burdened of all human words. Precisely for that reason it is the most imperishable and unavoidable. And how much weight has all erroneous talk about God's nature and works (although there never has been nor can be any such talk that is not erroneous) compared with the one truth that all men who have addressed God really meant him? For whoever pronounces the word God and really means Thou, addresses, no matter what his delusion, the true Thou of his life that cannot be restricted by any other and to whom he stands in a relationship that includes all others.

Martin Buber photo

“The world is not divine sport, it is divine destiny. There is divine meaning in the life of the world, of man, of human persons, of you and of me.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

I and Thou (1923)
Context: The world is not divine sport, it is divine destiny. There is divine meaning in the life of the world, of man, of human persons, of you and of me.
Creation happens to us, burns itself into us, recasts us in burning — we tremble and are faint, we submit. We take part in creation, meet the Creator, reach out to Him, helpers and companions. <!-- § 49

Martin Buber photo

“For whoever pronounces the word God and really means Thou, addresses, no matter what his delusion, the true Thou of his life that cannot be restricted by any other and to whom he stands in a relationship that includes all others.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

I and Thou (1923)
Context: Some would deny any legitimate use of the word God because it has been misused so much. Certainly it is the most burdened of all human words. Precisely for that reason it is the most imperishable and unavoidable. And how much weight has all erroneous talk about God's nature and works (although there never has been nor can be any such talk that is not erroneous) compared with the one truth that all men who have addressed God really meant him? For whoever pronounces the word God and really means Thou, addresses, no matter what his delusion, the true Thou of his life that cannot be restricted by any other and to whom he stands in a relationship that includes all others.

Martin Buber photo

“The Thou encounters me by grace — it cannot be found by seeking.”

Martin Buber book I and Thou

I and Thou (1923)
Context: The Thou encounters me by grace — it cannot be found by seeking. But that I speak the basic word to it is a deed of my whole being, is my essential deed.

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