Quotes - Religion - Theology - Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Christian Gnosticism, Islam
RELIGION / THEOLOGY Law-Justice   Economics  Macronow Library
TOPIC ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
ATEN
AMEN-RE
42 GODS
JUDAISM
ABRAHAM
MOSES
SOLOMON
PROPHETS
HINDUISM
BRAHMAN
ATMAN
TAOISM
LAO-TZU
BUDDHISM
BUDDHA
CONFUCIANISM
CONFUCIUS
MENCIUS
CHRISTIANITY
JESUS CHRIST
THE APOSTLES
CHRISTIAN GNOSTICISM
JESUS CHRIST
DIDYMOS JUDAS THOMAS
ISLAM
MOHAMMAD, THE PROPHET
SCRIPTURES BOOK OF THE DEAD GO
 
TORAH
TALMUD
THE OLD TESTAMENT
GO
THE RIG VEDA GO
THE UPANISHADS
GO
THE
BHAGAVAD GITA GO
TAO TE CHING GO THE DHAMMAPADA GO THE ANALECTS GO
MENCIUS
GO
THE GREAT LEARNING
THE DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN
THE NEW TESTAMENT GO THE NAG HAMMADI LIBRARY GO
GNOSTIC SCRIPTURES
THE KORAN GO
RELIGION
God
Brahman and Atman
Light and Darkness
Good and Evil
Right and Wrong
The Way
The Straight Path
Spirit and Self
Being and
  Not-Being
First Seed
Birth and Death
Heaven and Hell
Satan
Sovereign
Rulers and
  Governors
Faith
Love and
  Goodness
Humanness
Peace
Knowledge
Sin
Misery
Offense
Wickedness
Inequity
Injustice
Desire
Deception
Corruption
Cheating
Usurpation
Destruction
Prostitution of
  Soul
Dominion
Folly
Essence
Virtue
Reciprocity
Understanding
Revelation
Hope
Immortality
Misery
Ignorance
Shame
Fear
Regret
Israelites
Lying
Death
Blind
Deaf
 

THE GREAT HYMN TO THE ATEN

"O living Aten, creator of life! . . .
Who makes seed grow in women,
Who creates people from sperm; . . .
O Sole God beside whom there is none! . . .
You made millions of forms from yourself alone, . . .
There is no other who knows you,
Only your son . . ."
1a

" . . . And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." [Genesis: 1:4]1a*

"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." [Genesis 2:17]1b

"I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me . . . " [Exodus 20:5]1c

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord." [Leviticus 19:18]1d*

"But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. . . .
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine." [Leviticus 20:23-26]1e*

"That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there." [Ecclesiastes 3:15-16]1f*

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me . . . 
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." [Isaiah 45:5-7].1g*

"Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor. . .
My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations." [Hosea 9:1 and 17]1h*

"There was neither non-existence nor existence then . . .
There was neither death nor immortality then. . .
Darkness was hidden by darkness . . .
Desire came upon that one in the beginning: that was the first seed of mind. . .
Whence this creation has arisen -- perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not -- the one who looks down on it, in the highest heaven, only he knows -- or perhaps he does not know."1a [10.129-1-7]

"In the first age of the gods, existence was born from non-existence."1b [10.72.3]

"Concealed in the heart of all beings is the Atman, the Spirit, the Self; smaller than the smallest atom, greater than the vast spaces."2b

"When all desires that cling to the heart are surrendered, then a mortal becomes immortal . . . "2c

"In truth who knows God becomes God."2d

"OM. This eternal Word is all: what was, what is and what shall be, and what beyond is in eternity. All is OM."2e

" . . . 'My son, from the very essence in the seed which you cannot see comes in truth this vast banyan tree.
Believe me, my son, an invisible and subtle essence is the Spirit of the whole universe. That is Reality. That is Atman. THOU ART THAT.'"2f

"'The Spirit who is in the body does not grow old and does not die, and no one can ever kill the Spirit who is everlasting. This is the real castle of Brahman wherein dwells all the love of the universe. . . '"2g

[King of Videha:] "What is the Soul?" 
[Yajñavalkya:] "It is the consciousness of life. . . "2i

"Only by love can men see me, and know me, and come unto me."3d [11:54]

"Know now from me, Arjuna, the five causes of all actions . . . wherein is found the end of all works.
The body, the lower 'I am', the means of perception, the means of action, and Fate."3g [18:13-14]

"Truly, 'Only he that rids himself forever of desire can see the Secret Essences';
He that has never rid himself of desire can see only the Outcomes." [Ch. 1]1a

" . . . [I]f every one recognized virtue as virtue, this would merely create fresh conceptions of wickedness.
For truly 'Being and Not-being grow out of one another; . . .'" [Ch. 2]1b

"For to know what once there was, in the Beginning,
This is called the essence of the Way." [Ch. 14]1c

"To know the always-so is to be Illumined;
Not to know it, means to go blindly to disaster." [Ch. 16]1d

"In the governance of empire everything difficult must be dealt with while it is still easy,
Everything great must be dealt with while it is small." [Ch. 63]1e

"He, truly, is supreme in battle,
Who would conquer himself alone,
Rather than he who would conquer in battle
A thousand, thousand men." [v. 103]1a

"The wrong done by oneself
Is born of oneself, is produced in oneself.

It grinds one deficient in wisdom
As a diamond grinds a rock-gem." [v. 161]1b

"This world has become blinded, as it were.
Few here see insightfully. . . " [v. 174]
1c

"Misery, the arising of misery,
And the transcending of misery,
The Noble Eightfold Path
Leading to the allaying of misery." [v. 191]1d

" . . . Bad qualities indeed are stains,
In this world and in that beyond.
More staining than that stain
Is ignorance, the worst of stains. . . "
[vv. 242-243]1e

"No sons there are for protection,
Neither father nor even relations,
For one seized by the End-Maker;
Among relations there is no protection." [v. 288]1f

" . . . The majority, indeed, are of poor virtue." [v. 320]1g

"The Master said: 'If one sets one's heart on humaneness, one will be without evil.'" [4:4]1a

"The Master said: 'If a man does not anticipate deception and does not reckon on bad faith, but on the other hand is aware in good time when they occur, he is a man of quality, isn't he?'" [14:31]1b

"Jie Yu, the madman of Chu, passed Master Kong, singing:

Phoenix, phoenix,
What a decline of virtue! . . .

Master Kong got down and wished to speak with him. But he hurried off and avoided him . . . " [18:5]1c

"' . . . When chickens or dogs wander away, people know enough to search for them, but when their heart wanders away they don't. The Way of learning is nothing other than this: searching for the heart that's wandered away.'" [XI.11]2c

"'The heart we all share longs to be exalted. But the exalted is already there in us, though we may not realize it. . . '" [XI.17]2d

"'The ten thousand things are all there in me. And there's no joy greater than looking within and finding myself faithful to them. Treat others as you would be treated. Devote yourself to that, for there's no more direct approach to Humanity.'" [XIII.4]2e

"'The people are the most precious of all things. Next come the gods of soil and grain. The sovereign matters least. . . '" [XIV.14]2g

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. . . 
[E]very good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit."  [St. Matthew 7:16-18]1a*

" . . . [T]here is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known." [St. Matthew 10:26]1b

" . . . [A] man's foes shall be they of his own household." [St. Matthew 10:36]1c*

"[Jesus] . . . said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man . . . 
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire." [St. Matthew 13:37-43]1d

 " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee . . ." [St. Matthew 23:37]1d'

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." [St. John 1:1]1e

" . . . [T]o him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." [James 4:17]1f

"(16) Jesus said, 'Men think, perhaps, that it is peace which I have come to cast upon the world. They do not know that it is dissension which I have come to cast upon the earth: fire, sword, and war. . . '"1a

"(51) His [Jesus's] disciples said to him, 'When will the repose of the dead come about, and when will the new world come?'
He said to them, 'What you look forward to has already come, but you do not recognize it.'"1b

"(73) [Judas] said, 'Tell me Lord, what the beginning of the path is.'
(74) He said, 'Love and goodness. For if one of these existed among the governors, wickedness would never have come into existence.'"1c

"For everything which is visible is a copy of that which is hidden."1d

"Entrust yourself to reason and remove yourself from animalism."1e

"Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe,
The Compassionate, the Merciful,
Sovereign of the Day of Judgement!
You alone we worship, and to You alone we turn for help.
Guide us to the straight path . . ." [The Exordium 1:2-6].1a

"Had the People of the Book accepted the Faith, it would surely have been better for them. Some are true believers, but most of them are evil-doers." [The 'Imrans 3:111]1b

"Surely the hypocrites are evil-doers."  [Repentance 9:67].1c

"Believers, Jews, Sabaeans and Christians -- whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does what is right -- shall have nothing to fear or to regret.
We made a covenant with the Israelites and sent forth apostles among them. But whenever an apostle came to them with a message that did not suit their fancies, some they accused of lying and others they put to death. They thought no harm would follow: they were blind and deaf. . ." [The Table 5:69-70.]
1d

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAW-JUSTICE
Good and Evil
Right and Wrong
Heaven and Hell
Love
Righteousness
Reciprocity
New Law
Neighbor
Darkness
Prohibition
Priesthood
Offense
Wickedness
Perversion
Inequity
Injustice
Desire
Hate
Litigation
Great Deception
Plunder
Corruption
Shame
Cheating
Usurpation
Destruction
Division
Thieves
Robbers
Bandits
God's Friends
Wrongdoers
Law
Fault
Chief Priests
Crucify
Son of God

 
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
THE JUDGMENT OF THE DEAD
THE DECLARATION TO THE FORTY-TWO GODS

"O Wide-of-stride who comes from On: I have not done evil.
. . . I have not robbed.
. . . I have not coveted.
. . . I have not stolen.
. . . I have not killed people.
. . . I have not trimmed the measure.
. . . I have not cheated.
. . . I have not told lies. . .
. . . I have not committed adultery.
. . . I have not copulated with a boy. . .
. . . I have not cursed a god. . ."
1c

THE INSTRUCTION OF PAPYRUS INSINGER

(7,13) "There is one who lives on little so as to save, yet he becomes poor."
(7,14) "There is one who does not know, yet the fate gives (him) wealth."
 

 

JUDAISM
" . . . [T]he Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates . . . " [Genesis 15:18]1i

"And God spake all these words, saying, . . .
Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house . . . "
[Exodus 20:13-17]1j

"Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments . .  [Leviticus 18:5]1k

"Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?" [Job 8:3]1l

"When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness." [Job 30-26]1m

"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." [Ecclesiastes 9:11]1n*

HINDUISM
"Indra and Soma, burn the demon and crush him . . . Shatter those who lack good thoughts; scorch them, kill, drive out, cut down the devourers.
Indra and Soma, let evil heat boil up around him who plots evil, like a pot set on a fire. . .
Indra and Soma, pierce the evil-doers and hurl them into the pit, the bottomless darkness, so that not a single one will come up from there again. Let this furious rage of yours overpower them. . . "1e [7.104.1-3]

"All beings are born in delusion, the delusion of division which comes from desire and hate."3c [7:27]

" . . . The law of righteousness is my law; and my joy is infinite joy."3e [14:27]

TAOISM
"The more prohibitions there are . . 
The poorer the people
will be. . . 
The more laws are promulgated,
The more thieves and bandits there will be." [Ch. 57]
1f

"Heaven's net is wide;
Coarse are the meshes, yet nothing slips through." [Ch. 73]1g

BUDDHISM
" . . . Of death all are afraid.
Having made oneself the example,
One should neither slay nor cause to slay." [v. 129]1h

"Life is easily lived
By a shameless one,
A disparager, crafty as a crow,
An obtruder, impudent and corrupt."
[v. 244]1i

"The one who speaks lies, goes to hell . . . " [v. 306]1j

CONFUCIANISM
"The Master said: 'It is all over! I have never come across anyone capable of discerning his errors and inwardly bringing himself to justice.'" [5:27]1d

"The Master said: 'At hearing legal proceedings I am no different from anybody else, but what is surely necessary is to bring it about that there is no litigation.'" [12:13]1e

"Fan Chi asked about humaneness. The Master said: 'It is to love others.' He asked about understanding. The Master said: 'It is to understand others' . . . " [12:22]1f

"Zigong asked: 'Is there a single word such that one could practice it throughout one's life?' The Master said: 'Reciprocity perhaps? Do not inflict on others what you yourself would not wish done to you.'" [15:24]1g

"' . . . Unless they have a constant livelihood, the common people will never have constant minds. And without constant minds, they'll wander loose and wild. They'll stop at nothing, and soon cross the law.'" [I.7]2b

CHRISTIANITY
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . . 
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." [St. Matthew 22:37-40].1g

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." [St. John 1:17].1h*

"Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."
[St. John 19:4:7].1i*

" . . . [T]he law entered, that the offense might abound" [Romans 5:20].1j

"But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. . . " [Romans 9:31-32].1k*

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." [Romans 13:8]1l

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us . . . " [Galatians 3:13].1m*

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." [Ephesians 6:10-12] 1n*

"But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners . . . , for murderers . . .
For whoremongers . . . , for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons . . . " [1 Timothy 1:8-10]1o*

" . . . [T]he priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. . . the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of better hope did . . . " [Hebrews 8:12 and 19].1p*

CHRISTIAN GNOSTICISM
" . . . [T]he greatest [struggle] has to do with the prostitution of the soul. From it arises the prostitution of the body as well. . .
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood . . . but against the world rulers of this darkness and the spirits of wickedness."
1f

[Trismegistus to Asclepius] "And a new law will be established. . . [The] wicked angels will remain among men, . . . (and) lead them into wicked things recklessly, as well as into atheism, wars, and plunderings, by teaching them things contrary to nature."1g

" . . . Adam was a laughingstock . . . And Abraham and Isaac and Jacob were a laughingstock . . . Solomon was a laughingstock . . . Moses . . . was a laughingstock . . .
For they had a doctrine of angels to observe dietary laws and bitter slavery, since they never knew truth, nor will they know it. For there is a great deception upon their soul making it impossible for them ever to find a Nous of freedom in order to know him, until they come to know the Son of Man. . . 
For the Archon was a laughingstock because he said, 'I am God . . . I am a jealous God, who brings the sins of the fathers upon the children for three and four generations.'"
1h

ISLAM
"God will separate the wicked from the just.
He will heap all the wicked one upon another and then cast them into Hell." [The Spoils 8:37].1e

"Those to whom the burden of the Torah was entrusted and yet refused to bear it are like a donkey laden with books. . .
Say to the Jews: 'If you claim that of all men you alone are God's friends, then you should wish for death, if what you say be true!' But, because of what their hands have done, they will never wish for death. God knows the wrongdoers. . . " [Friday, Or The Day Of Congregation 62:5-7].
1f

ECONOMICS
Usury
Bondage
Bondmen and
  Bondmaids
Possession
Inheritance
Children of Israel

Advantage
Vanity
Profits
Rich and Poor
Right and Wrong
Humanity and
  Duty
Money
Wealth
Debt
Root of all Evil
Possession
Labor
Skill
Moneychangers
Creditor
Debtor
Servant
Lender
Neighbor v.
  Foreigner
Debt Release
Trading
Deception
Corruption
Cheating
Usurpation
Destruction
Misery
Danger
Business Cycle
Eternal Return
Skill
Profit
Hoarding
Thieves
Robbers
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
VOTIVE STELA OF NEBRE WITH HYMN TO AMEN-RE

"Amen-Re, Lord of Thrones-of-the-Two-Lands, . . .
You are Amun, the Lord of the silent,
Who comes at the voice of the poor;
When I call to you in my distress,
You come to rescue me,
To give breath to him who is wretched,
To rescue me from bondage. . ."1b

THE INSTRUCTION OF ANY

"Behold, I give you these useful counsels, . . .
Wealth accrues to him who guards it; . . .
If wealth is placed where it bears interest,
It comes back to you redoubled; . . ."
1d

THE INSTRUCTION OF AMENEMOPE

"If you find a large debt against a poor man,
Make it into three parts;
Forgive two, let one stand. . ."
1e

THE INSTRUCTION OF ANKHSHESHONQ

(12,6) "Do not do evil to a man and so cause another to do it to you."
(16,4) "Do not go to your brother when you are in distress; go to your friend."
(16,5) "Do not drink water in the house of a merchant; he will charge you for it."
(16,21) "Do not lend money at interest without obtaining a security."
(21,11) There is no one who deceives who is not deceived."
(22,19) "Give one loaf to your laborer, receive two from (the work of) his arms."
(24,10) Man is even more eager to copulate than a donkey; his purse is what restrains him."2a

THE INSTRUCTION OF PAPYRUS INSINGER

(6,24) "He who spends without an income must pay interest on interest."
(15,9) "Theft with greed brings a lawful killing."
(17,8) "He who loves to hoard wealth will die robbed of it."2b

JUDAISM
"Take thou no usury of him: but fear God . . . Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase." [Leviticus 25:36-37]1o

"Both thy bondmen and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.
Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen forever:
but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour."
[Leviticus 25:44-46]1p*

"At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it . . . Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again . . . " [Deuteronomy 15:1-3]1q*

"Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury;
Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury . . . " [Deuteronomy 23:19-20]1r

"The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure . . .and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail . . . " [Deuteronomy 28:12-13]1s*

"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." [Proverbs 22:7]1t*

"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun." [Ecclesiastes 2:11]1u*

" . . . [M]oney answereth all things." [Ecclesiastes 10:19]1v

HINDUISM
"Let the stronger man give to the man whose need is greater; let him gaze upon the lengthening path. For riches roll like the wheels of a chariot, turning from one to another."1c [10.117.5]

"Ward off the she-wolf and the wolf; ward off the thief. O night full of waves, be easy for us to cross over.
Darkness -- palpable, black, and painted -- has come upon me. O Dawn, banish it like a debt."1d [10.127.6-7]

" . . . [S]et not your heart on another's possession."2a

[Yajñavalkya to his wife:] "'In wealth there is no hope of life eternal.'"2h

"Even as the unwise work selfishly in the bondage of selfish works, let the wise man work unselfishly for the good of all the world."3a [3:25]

"It is greedy desire and wrath, born of passion, the great evil, the sum of destruction: this is the enemy of the soul."3b [3:27]

"Evil men know not what should be done or what should not be done. Purity is not in their hearts, nor good conduct, nor truth.
They say: 'This world has no truth, no moral foundation, no God. . . '
Firm in this belief, these men of dead souls, of truly little intelligence, undertake their work of evil: they are the enemies of this fair world, working for its destruction. . .
They are bound by hundreds of vain hopes. Anger and lust is their refuge; and they strive by unjust means to amass wealth for their own cravings."3f [16:7-12]

TAOISM
"Banish skill, discard profit,
And thieves and robbers will disappear."
[Ch. 19]1h

"The people starve because those above them eat too much tax-grain." [Ch. 75]1i

BUDDHISM
"And should one live a hundred years
Not seeing 'the rise and demise';
Better still is one day lived
Of one seeing 'the rise and demise.'" [v. 113]1k

" . . . Misery is birth again and again." [v. 153]1l

" . . . Come, see that person,
Who, released, runs back to bondage itself." [v. 344]1m

CONFUCIANISM
"The Master said: 'The gentleman is familiar with what is right, just as the small man is familiar with profit.'" [4:16]1h

"Zigong said: 'Suppose there is a beautiful jade here, does one wrap it up, put it in a box and keep it, or does one try to get a good price and sell it?' The Master said: 'Sell it of course, sell it of course! I am one who is waiting for a price.'" [9:13]1i

"'Don't talk about profit,' said Mencius. 'It's Humanity and Duty that matter. Emperors say How can I profit my nation? Lords say How can I profit my house? And everyone else says How can I profit myself? Then everyone high and low is scrambling for profit, pitching the nation into grave danger.'" [I.1]2a*

"' . . To rise at the cock's cry and chase profits with untiring diligence -- that is to be a follower of Chih the bandit. . . '" [XIII.25]2f

CHRISTIANITY
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
[St. Matthew 7:12].1q

"THEN spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, . . .
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men . . .
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. . .
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!. . .
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
[St. Matthew 23:1,14:16,33].1r*

"And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers . . . And the scribes and chief priests . . . sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine." [St. Mark 11:15-18].1s

" . . . [T]he love of money is the root of all evil." [Timothy 6:10].1t

CHRISTIAN GNOSTICISM
"(64) Jesus said, ' . . . Businessmen and merchants [will] not enter the places of my father.'"1i

"(95) [Jesus said], 'If you have money, do not lend it at interest, but give [it] to one from whom you will not get it back.'"1j

"Do not trust anyone as a friend, for this whole world has come into being deceitfully . . . All things [of] the world are not profitable, but they happen in vain. There is no one, not even a brother, (who is trustworthy), since each one is seeking his own advantage."1k

ISLAM
"Do not devour one another's property by unjust means, nor bribe with it the judges in order that you may wrongfully and knowingly usurp the possessions of other men."
[The Cow 2:188].1g

"Those that live in usury shall rise up before God like men whom Satan has demented by his touch; for they claim that trading is no different from usury." [The Cow 2:275].1h

"If your debtor be in straits, grant him a delay until he can discharge his debt; but if you waive the sum as alms it will be better for you, if you but knew it." [The Cow 2:280].1i

"Believers, do not live on usury, doubling your wealth many times over." [The 'Imrans 3:130].1j

"Let those who hoard the wealth which God has bestowed on them out of His bounty never think it good for them: it is nothing but evil." [The 'Imrans 3:181].1k

"Give orphans the property which belongs to them. Do not exchange their valuables for worthless things or cheat them of their possession; for this would surely be a great sin." [Women 4:3].1l

* Italics in the original.

1 Miriam Lichtheim (1914-2004). Ancient Egyptian Literature. Volume II: The New Kingdom. With a New Forward by Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert. The Regents of the University of California, 1976, 2006. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
PART II: Hymns, Prayers, and a Harper's Song
a
The Great Hymn to the Aten, at 96-100.
b
Votive Stela of Nebre with Hymn to Amen-Re, at 105-107.
PART III:
From the Book of the Dead

c
Chapter 125: The Judgment of the Dead. The Declaration to the Forty-two Gods, at 124-132.
PART IV: Instructions
d
The Instruction of Any, at 135-146.
e
The Instruction of Amenemope, 146-163.

2 Miriam Lichtheim. Ancient Egyptian Literature. Volume III: The Late Period. With a New Forward by Joseph G. Manning. The Regents of the University of California, 1980, 2006. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
IV Hymns and Lamentations
PART II: Demotic Literature

a The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq, at 159-184.
b
The Instruction of Papyrus Insinger, at 184-217.

1 The Holy Bible. The Old Testament. King James Version. London, England: Collins' Clear-Type Press, 1957.
a Genesis 1:4.
b
Genesis 2:17.
c
Exodus 20:5.
d Leviticus 19:18.
e
Leviticus 20:23-26.
f
Ecclesiastes 3:15-16.
g Isaiah 45:5-7.
h
Hosea 9:1 and 17.
i
Genesis 17:18. See also 17:11 (circumcision as token of the covenant), Exodus 6:4, and Exodus 35:27-28 (words of the covenant, the ten commandments).
j
Exodus 20:13-17.
k Leviticus 18:5..
l Job 8:3.
m
Job 30-26.
n
Ecclesiastes 9:11.

o Leviticus 25:36-37.
p Leviticus 25:44-46.
q Deuteronomy 15:1-3.
r Deuteronomy 23:19-20.
s Deuteronomy 28:12-13.
t Proverbs 22:7.
u Ecclesiastes 2:11.
v Ecclesiastes 10:19.

1 The Rig Veda: An Anthology. One Hundred and Eight Hymns, Selected, Translated and Annotated by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty. Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty, 1981. London, UK: Penguin Books Ltd.
a
 Creation Hymn (Nāsadīya), 10.129-1-7, at 25-26.
b
 Aditi and the Birth of the Gods, 10.72.3, at 38.
c
 In Praise of Generosity, 10.117.5, at 69.
d
 Night, 10.127.6-7, at 200.
e
 The Demons in Hell, 7.104.1-3, at 293.

2 The Upanishads. Translated from the Sanskrit with an Introduction by Juan Mascaró. Juan Mascaró, 1965. London, UK: Penguin Books Ltd.
a  Isa Upanishad, at 49.
b
 Katha Upanishad, Part 2, at 59. See also Svetasvatara Upanishad, Part 3, at 90.
c  Ibid., Part 6, at 66. See also The Supreme Teaching, Liberation, at 140.
d  Mundaka Upanishad, Part 3, Chapter 2, at 81.
e  Mandukya Upanishad, at 83.
f  Chandogya Upanishad, at 117.
g  Ibid., at 120-121.
h  Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad, at 130.
i  The Supreme Teaching, Prologue and Waking and Dreaming, at 134.

3 The Bhagavad Gita. Translated from the Sanskrit with an Introduction by Juan Mascar. Juan Mascar�, 1962. London, UK: Penguin Books Ltd.
All the quotes below are attributed to Krishna.
a
 3:25, at 19.
b
 3:27, at 20.
c
 7:27, at 38.
d
 11:54, at 58. See also 18:55, at 84.
e
 14:27, at 69.
f
 16:7-12, at 73-74.
g
 18:13-14, at 80.

1 Lao Tzu. Tao Te Ching. Translated with Notes by Arthur Waley. With an Introduction by Robert Wilkinson. Ware, Hertfordshire, UK: Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1997.
a Ch. 1, at 1.
b Ch. 2, at 2.
c Ch. 14, at 14.
d Ch. 16, at 16.
e Ch. 63, at 66.
f Ch. 57, at 60.
g Ch. 73, at 77.
h Ch. 19, at 19.
i Ch. 75, at 79.

1 Buddha (c.563-c.483 BC). The Dhammapada. Translated with an Introduction and Notes by John Ross Carter and Mahinda Palihawadana. John Ross Carter and Mahinda Palihawadana, 2000. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1987.
a Chapter VIII. The Thousands, v. 103, at 20.
b Chapter XII. The Self, v. 161, at 30.
c Chapter XIII. The World, v. 174, at 33.
d
Chapter XIV. The Awakened One, v. 191, at 35.
e Chapter XVIII. Stains, vv. 242-243, at 44.
f Chapter XX. The Path, v. 288, at 51.
g Chapter XXIII. The Elephant, v. 320, at 57.
h Chapter X. The Rod, v. 129, at 25.
i Chapter XVIII. Stains, v. 244, at 44.
j Chapter XXII. Hell, v. 306, at 55.
k
Chapter VIII. The Thousands, v. 113, at 21.
l Chapter XI. Old Age, v. 153, at 29.
m Chapter XXIV. Craving, v. 344, at 60.
1 Confucius. The Analects. Translated with an Introduction and Notes by Raymond Dawson. Translation, Editorial material, Raymond Dawson, 1993. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. [The Analects consist of about 500 pieces organized by book and chapter; Confucius is referred to as Master Kong.]
a 4:4.
b 14:31.
c 18:5.
d 5:27.
e 12:13.
f 12:22.
g 15:24.
h 4:16.
i 9:13.

2 Mencius. Mencius. Translated with an Introduction by David Hinton. David Hinton, 1998. Washington, DC: COUNTERPOINT, member of the Perseus Books Group.
a Emperor Hui Liang, Book One, I.1, at 3.
b Ibid., I.7, at 16.
c Master Kao, Book One, XI.11, at 207.
d Ibid., XI.17, at 210.
e To Fathom the Mind, Book One, XIII.4, at 236.
f Ibid., XIII.25, at 244.
g
To Fathom the Mind, Book Two, XIV.14, at 261.

1 The Holy Bible. The New Testament. King James Version. London, England: Collins' Clear-Type Press, 1957.
a St. Matthew 7:16-18.
b
St. Matthew 10:26.
c St. Matthew 10:36.
d
St. Matthew 13:37-43.
d'
St. Matthew 23:37.
e
St. John 1:1.
f
James 4:17.
g St. Matthew 22:37-40.
h St. John 1:17.
i St. John 19:4:7
j Romans 5:20.
k Romans 9:31-32.
l Romans 13:8.
m Galatians 3:13.
n Ephesians 6:10-12.
o 1 Timothy 1:8-10.
p Hebrews 8:12 and 19.
q St. Matthew 7:12.
r St. Matthew 23:1,14:16,33
s St. Mark 11:15-18.
t Timothy 6:10.

1 James M. Robinson (ed.). The Nag Hammadi Library in English. 3rd completely revised edition. Translated and introduced by members of the Coptic Gnostic Library Project of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont, California. Afterword by Richard Smith. E. J. Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands, 1978, 1988. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 1990.
a The Gospel of Thomas (II,2). Introduced by Helmut Koester. Translated by Thomas O. Lambdin, at 128.
b Ibid., at 132.
c The Dialogue of the Savior (III,5). Introduced by Helmut Koester and Elaine H. Pagels. Translated by Stephen Emmel, at 253.
d The Teachings of Silvanus (VII,4). Introduced and translated by Malcolm L. Peel and Jan Zandee, at 387. [Note: Teach. Silv. is not gnostic.]
e Ibid., at 390.
f The Exegesis on the Soul (II,6). Introduced by Maddalena Scopello. Translated by William C. Robinson, Jr., at 194.
g Asclepius 21-29 (VI,8). Introduced and translated by James Brashler, Peter A. Dirkse, and Douglas M. Parrott, at 335.
h The Second Treatise of the Great Seth (VII,2). Introduced by Joseph A. Gibbons. Translated by Roger A. Bullard and Joseph A. Gibbons, at 368-369.
i The Gospel of Thomas (II,2). Op. cit., at 133-134.
j Ibid., at 136.
k
The Teachings of Silvanus (VII,4). Op. cit., at 386.

1 The Koran. Translated, with Notes, by N.J. Dawood. N.J. Dawood, 1956, 1959, 1966, 1968, 1974, 1990, 1993. London, England: Penguin Books Ltd.
a The Exordium 1:2-6.
b The 'Imrans 3:111.
c
Repentance 9:67.
d
The Table 5:69-70.
e
The Spoils 8:37.
f
Friday, Or The Day Of Congregation 62:5-7.
g
The Cow 2:188.
h The Cow 2:275.
i The Cow 2:280.
j The 'Imrans 3:130.
k The 'Imrans 3:181.
l Women 4:3.