“Rebbe!” the man cried. “Nobody gives me respect! Everybody steps all over me and my opinions!”
—“And who told you to fill the entire space with yourself, so that wherever anyone steps, they step on you?”
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.
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LLirenelli Mari-Ciriaco
Colorado
March 15, 2018
Thanks for your daily dose of wisdom. It’s well appreciated. G-d blesses you Reply
Pee
Australia
March 15, 2018
Smaller Awesome topic, totally open my mind more. Reply
valerie
usa
June 9, 2013
smaller to TY, Confused -- same with me. though...after a while, (a LONG while!) life happens. and you watch and learn and see that those who were thoughtless and rudely showed no respect aren't important anymore. you find your own self, and be yourself, and enjoy YOU, and surround yourself with goodness and kindness and be good and kind -- and rise above it. ...if you have the patience, that is, cause it takes some time!!!! of course G-d is the best ally. Reply
Anonymous
June 9, 2013
TY
I really felt this way ( no respect for my person), my family has had no respect...
Reply
Valerie
usa
June 9, 2013
smaller? Wow! This is wonderful! To me, it means take a step back, get out of your own self, focus, listen, and hear someone besides yourself. a good way to learn! (ps, i was taught 'that which is good for you, do for another'; maybe a more positive way of looking at it?) Reply
Meir Joseph
June 9, 2013
Guess I'm confused
I think I'm too close to these feelings. Am I to understand that if you feel people are being cruel to you, it is because you are having feelings of self worth. Are we not to feel that our opinions and feeling matter to anyone other than ourselves.
I think sometimes we are hurt when we think we know better than anyone else. But there are times that even a humble man is kicked by another person who thinks they know better.
Reply
John Michael Hart
UK Basingstoke.
June 9, 2013
Smaller
" But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things".
Being small is not easy in a world that wants to mock you.
" What is hatefull to you, that do not to another, This is the whole Torah; the rest is just explanation". Rav Hillel.
Reply
Anne Lanzarone
Accord, New York
April 11, 2011
Bringing Heaven down to Earth Brilliant! People are so full of themselves! Self-absorbed. But Hashem promises to lower the haughty and lift the lowly. Omayn. Reply
Anonymous
Crestview, FL
April 11, 2011
alternate viewpoint
Personally I think this is a little insinsative as what if the person really does get's steped on and they need to realize they need to be more assertive or something?
What do you want them to be nothing? Oh wait that's the goal right? Yet, how can one person who is created in G-d's image be 'nothing'? it's an utter impossiability and seeks to make G-d 'nothing'?
Reply
margaret
mesa, Arizona, USA
April 11, 2011
smaller
You are soo right! I will keep my space, and you keep yours...
May Hashem fill both spaces. He is Judge of all. Blessed be His name for ever and ever!!!
Reply
Carmen
April 11, 2011
This is a good one! This is a tough but very important lesson to learn ! Reply
Doecilia Deurvorst
zutphen, The Netherlands
April 11, 2011
Daily Dose april 11th 2011 So true!!!! Reply
kameo
April 11, 2011
nice Reply
Anonymous
lebanon, beyrouth
November 23, 2007
it's a good site Reply
David Lloyd (ben Yaacov Yehuda) Klepper
Yeshivat Beit Oroe, Jerusalem, Israel
June 12, 2025
in response to Anonymous:
The TORAH demands saving lives when you can, Free the hostages is a more important message, and everyone should have written Trump to the threaten QATAR (who do really control Hamas) to withdraw the airbase and impose sanctions. Enough letters will do the job. Reply
This fragment refers to pride. When you show off you take all the room, and then there is none for others. You can be succesful without trying to show off . If the world notices that would be nice but if it doesn't keep up with you path because the real important recognition is from above. Stay small, relish your accomplishments and follow the derech. You will be happy recongnized or not. In that way nobody will step on you.