Nachman of Breslov -- (Paraphrase)

Dave — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 21:39:45 +0000

All the world is a very narrow bridge, and the most important thing is not to be overwhelmed by fear.

כל העולם כולו גשר צר מאוד, והעיקר – לא לפחד כלל.

Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) Ukrainian Jewish Hasidic leader, rabbi, kabbalist [רַבִּי נַחְמָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב; of Bratslav; of Bracław]
(Paraphrase)

The original of this passage, in Nachman's Likutey Moharan, Part 2, 48:2, is:

[וְדַע, שֶׁהָאָדָם צָרִיך לַעֲבר עַל גֶּשֶׁר צַר מְאֹד מְאֹד וְהַכְּלָל וְהָעִקָּר שֶׁלּא יִתְפַּחֵד כְּלָל]

which is variously translated:

And know, a person needs to make his passage on a very, very narrow bridge, and the rule and the essence is to not be afraid at all.
[Source]

Know that [when] a person needs to cross a very, very narrow bridge, the general principle and main point is not to make oneself at all terrified.
[Source]

Now know, a person needs to pass over on a very, very narrow bridge, and the rule and the essence is to not be afraid at all.
[Source]

This Nachman quote was paraphrased and set to music in the Hebrew tune, "Kol Ha'Olam Kulo [כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלוֹ]":

Kol ha'olam kulo
Gesher tzar me'od,
Veha'ikar lo le'fached klal.

Other translations of the song include:

"All the world is a very narrow bridge, and the essence is not to fear at all."
"All the world is a very narrow bridge, and the essence is, don't be afraid at all."
"The whole world is a narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to be at all afraid."
"All the world is a very narrow bridge. / But the main thing to recall / Is to have no fear at all."

More information about the song:

Shaw, George Bernard -- Candida, Act 3 (1898)

Dave — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 17:18:50 +0000

Man can climb to the highest summits; but he cannot dwell there long.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright and critic
Candida, Act 3 (1898)
(Source)

Lewis, Sam M. -- “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” (1925)

Dave — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 14:57:35 +0000

Five foot two, eyes of blue,
But oh! what those five feet could do,
Has anybody seen my girl?

Sam M. Lewis (1885-1959) American singer and lyricist
“Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” (1925)

WIST Quotations

Nachman of Breslov -- (Paraphrase)

Shaw, George Bernard -- Candida, Act 3 (1898)

Lewis, Sam M. -- “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” (1925)