Performing Good Deeds

Ashrei Prayer — Your wondorous deeds I shall discuss.

Avot d’Rabbi Natan — If a man gives to his fellow all the good gifts of the world but does so with a grumpy demeanor, the Bible regards it as if he had given nothing. But is he receives his fellow cheerfully and kindly, the Bible regards it as if he had given him all the good gifts of the world.

Berachot 17a — The purpose of wisdom is to bring about repentance and good deeds.

Berachot 57b — Three things restore a person\'s spirit: (beautiful) sounds, sights and scents.

Derech Eretz Zuta, 58a — If you did someone a great favor, regard it as small, and do not say, \'I did this good act with my own money\'. Rather, say it was from what G-d had graciously given you.

Deuteronomy 13:5 — Walk in the ways of the Almighty by emulating His deeds.

Deuteronomy 6:18 — Do what is right and good in the L-rd\'s sight.

Ethics of the Fathers 1:15 — ...say little and do much...

Ethics of the Fathers 2:17 — ...let all your deeds be fore the sake of Heaven.

Ethics of the Fathers 2:9 — The highest good is a good heart.

Ethics of the Fathers 3:15 — Everything depends on deeds.

Ethics of the Fathers 3:17 — He whose deeds surpass his wisdom, to what is he compared? To a tree whose branches are few, but whose roots are abundant; even if all the winds in the world come and blow against it, they will not be able to move it from its place.

Ethics of the Fathers 4:11 — He who performs a good deed gains an advocate.

Ethics of the Fathers 4:2 — Run to perform a minor deed as if it were a major one.

Exodus Rabbah 32 — If one performs a good deed, G-d gives him one angel. If he performs two good deeds, G-d gives gim two angels. If he performs many good deeds, G-d gives him half His camp.

Kiddushin 40b — Happy is he who performs a good deed. It may tip the scale for him and the world.

l Mistater Zemer — KeWhat power can match You, O Doer of great deeds...

Leviticus Rabbah 21:5 — Be always like a helmsman, on the lookout for good deeds.

Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed, 1190, 2:6 — Everyone entrusted with a mission is an angel.

Mechilta de R. Ishmael — R. Josiah said: Just as you must not allow matzah to rise, ferment, or sour by lack of promptness in its baking, so you must not let a mitzvah sour by delyaing its performance, by letting it wait.

Mesillat Yesharim — For people of true understanding, the incentive to zeal comes from a sense of duty and the realization of the worth of the good deed itself.

Midrash Psalms 52:6 — Who is mighty? (One who) sees someone who had fallen into a pit and lifts that person out.

Mishnah Eduyot 5:7 — Your deeds will bring you near or drive you far.

Mishnah Menachot 13:11 — It is the same whether a man offers much or little, provided his heart is directed to heaven.

Proverbs — Anxiety in a man\'s heart saddens it, but a good word gladdens it.

Proverbs 19:16 — The keeper of a mitzvah keeps his soul.

Proverbs 2:2 — So follow the way of the good, and keep the paths of the just.

Psalms 112:6 — The good person will be remembered forever.

Rabbeinu Bachya, Chovot HaLevavot 7:10 — Our answer must be given in deeds, not words.

Rashi, Deuteronomy 13:5: — Walk in the ways of the Almighty by emulating His deeds.

Rashi, Genesis 6:9 — The main accomplishment of the righteous are their good deeds.

Ruth 3:11 — Whatever you ask I will do for you...

Samuel II 2:6 — And I too will repay you for this good deed that you have done.

Seder Eliyahu Rabbah — Four virtues refresh the world: charity, justice, truth and peace.

Shabbat 32a — The only intercessors with G-d a person needs are repentance and good deeds.

Yoma 38b — The righteous person is remembered by his own good deeds.