Q0311
“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If…” — Talmudic tradition (Mishnah Avot 1: 14 (Hillel))
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Mishnah Avot 1: 14 (Hillel). Theme: responsibility.
English
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Mishnah Avot 1: 14 (Hillel) and files it under Rabbinic Judaism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Talmudic tradition
Talmudic tradition appears in this archive through verified English quotations associated with the Rabbinic Judaism tradition. Biographical certainty varies by figure and text; where the “author” is a scripture or school anthology, read the name as a traditional attribution rather than a modern individual biography.
How to read this passage
Philosophical debates cover free will, blame, collective responsibility, and duties to distant others. Technology and AI revive the question of who is accountable when systems act. This passage enters that discussion through responsibility, self.
Concepts in this quote
- Responsibility
- Responsibility asks what we answer for—our choices, omissions, institutions, and the futures we help create.
- Self
- Philosophy quotes about self explore identity, responsibility, and the examined life—from Socrates’ unexamined life to modern phenomenology and existential authenticity.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Talmudic tradition. (n.d.). If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when? In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0311
MLA: Talmudic tradition. “If I am not for myself, who will….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0311.
Chicago: Talmudic tradition. “If I am not for myself, who will….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0311.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “If I am not for myself, who will…”?
The passage is attributed to Talmudic tradition, Mishnah Avot 1: 14 (Hillel). The archive attributes this English wording to Mishnah Avot 1: 14 (Hillel) and files it under Rabbinic Judaism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Talmudic tradition mean by responsibility?
Philosophical debates cover free will, blame, collective responsibility, and duties to distant others. Technology and AI revive the question of who is accountable when systems act. This passage enters that discussion through responsibility, self.