The translation in this edition is based largely upon that of Taylor, in his _Sayings of the Jewish Fathers_, and upon the excellent version of Singer, in his _Authorized Daily Prayer Book_. This edition is intended mainly for popular reading, but it has been thought wise to amplify the notes, especially with bibliographical references, so that it may serve the purpose of a teacher's handbook, and also be useful as a text-book for the higher grades of religious schools and for study circles. The references are to books that are generally accessible, and, wherever possible, to books in English. The notes are by no means intended to be exhaustive, but rather to be suggestive. It is the humble hope of the editor that this little book may be the means of further popularizing the practical and, at the same time, high-minded wisdom of the "Fathers"; that it may serve as an incentive to a more detailed study of their philosophy of life, and that its appearance may help us to lead in a revival of that most ancient and praiseworthy custom of reading the _Pirke Abot_ in the house of worship on the Sabbath, during the summer months. Let him into whose hands these sayings fall "meditate upon them day and night," for "he who would be saintly must fulfil the dicta of the Fathers." JOSEPH I GORFINKLE. Mt. Vernon, N. Y. February, 1913. INTRODUCTION NAME _The Tractate Abot_ (_Massechet Abot_) is the ninth treatise of _The Order_ or _Series on Damages_ (_Seder Nezikin_), which is the fourth section of the _Mishnah_ (1). It is commonly known in Hebrew as _Pirke Abot_, _The Chapters of the Fathers_, and has also been termed _Mishnat ha-Chasidim_, _Instruction for the Pious_, because of the Rabbinic saying, "He who wishes to be pious, let him practise the teachings of _Abot_" (2). On account of the nature of its contents, it is generally designated in English as the _Ethics of the Fathers_. Taylor entitles his edition _Dibre Aboth ha-Olam_, Sayings of the Fathers of the World_, and has as the English title, _Sayings of the Jewish Fathers_. Gustav Gottheil refers to the _Abot_ as the _Sayings of the Pharisaic Fathers_ (3). Its German title is generally _Die Spruche der Vater_, and in French it is usually rendered _Chapitres_ or _Maximes des Peres_. (1) See _infra_, [Chapter V], n. 61. (2) _Baba Kamma_, 30a. See Taylor, _Sayings of the Jewish Fathers_, p. 3. Maimonides refers to this saying in the _Foreword_ of his _Eight Chapters_; see Gorfinkle, _The Eight Chapters_, etc., p. 34. (3) See _Sun and Shield_, p. 321 _et passim_. See _infra_, n. 8, which accounts for the use of "_Pharisaic_."