Who said “A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might…”?

Paraphrased

The Talmud, in different words: the idea is theirs, but this popular wording has been altered from the original.

SourceJerusalem Talmud, Kiddushin 4:12 (R. Hizkiah in the name of Rav)

Evidence: sefaria.org · How we check

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“A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not.”
— The Talmud
Original (Hebrew), Jerusalem Talmud, Kiddushin 4:12

עָתִיד אָדָם לִיתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן עַל כָּל מַה שֶׁרָאָת עֵינוֹ וְלֹא אָכַל

Text: Jerusalem Talmud, ed. Heinrich W. Guggenheimer, via Sefaria (CC-BY)

ParaphrasedJerusalem Talmud, Kiddushin 4:12 (R. Hizkiah in the name of Rav) · evidenceEnjoyment

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Jerusalem Talmud, Kiddushin 4:12 (R. Hizkiah in the name of Rav).

APA

The Talmud (n.d.). A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/827-a-person-will-be-called-to-account-on/

MLA

The Talmud. “A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/827-a-person-will-be-called-to-account-on/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

The Talmud. “A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/827-a-person-will-be-called-to-account-on/.

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