Some teachings of the Alter Rebbe, Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi

1. The purpose of man's creation and of the creation of all the worlds, is to make for G‑d a dwelling in this physical world.

2. A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness.

3. By virtue of its inborn nature, the mind rules the heart.

4. Prayer without direction of the heart is like a body without a soul... Love of G‑d and fear of G‑d are the two wings by which a deed rises heavenward.

5. Every individual Jew, righteous or wicked, has two souls... One soul derives from kelipah, the "other side", and from it derive the evil traits and the Jew's instinctive good traits... The second soul in the Jew is literally a "part of G‑d above."

6. The body is likened to a small city: like two kings who wage war over a city, each desiring to capture it and rule over it, so do the two souls - the G‑dly soul and the animal soul - wage war against each other over the body. The desire and will of the G‑dly soul is that it alone should rule over the person and direct him, While the animal soul desires the very opposite..

7. The era of Moshiach is the fulfillment and culmination of the creation of the world, for which purpose it was originally created..

8. Our sages have taught, "Whoever gets angry, it is as if he worshipped idols" The reason for this is... because at the time of his anger, his faith has left him. For were he to believe that what happened to him was G d’s doing, he would not be angry at all.
   

9. "One who is satisfied with his lot" describes a tremendous virtue in material matters, and a tremendous failing in all that pertains to one's spiritual attainment.