48 Steps (מ״ח מַעֲלוֹת)
One of the earliest Mussar texts is Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers (פרקי אבות/PEER-kay ah-VOTE) which is a Tractate in the Mishnah, the earliest Jewish commentary on the Torah.
Pirkei Avot 6:6 presents a list of 48 Steps. (The Hebrew is מַעֲלוֹת/ma'alot, comes from the verb to ascend עלה/alah, and means steps, stages, or levels.) The list begins by stating that Torah is greater than the priesthood or kingship because these offices are acquired by 24 and 30 steps but the Torah is acquired by 48, which it then goes on to list.
This text doesn't explicitly use the word middah and many of these 48 aren't technically middot as they're quantifiable actions and not abstract qualities, but this list has nonetheless become popular as a list of Mussar middot. (The Mussar Center also offers a separate list of 48 of the most famous Mussar Middot here.)
This list is also available as a printable PDF. And one more thing. If you enjoy our resources would you drop us a tip to keep us going? Thank you!
תַלְמוּד
1. Talmud tall-MOOD
Study
שְׁמִיעַת הָאֹזֶן
2. Shmiat Ha'Ozen SHMEE-it ha-OWES-enn
Active listening (literally listening of the ear)
עֲרִיכַת שְׂפָתַיִם
3. Arichat Sfatayim ARE-ee-chat sfa-TIE-eem
Orderly, articulate speech (literally arranged lips)
בִינַת הַלֵּב
4. Binat Ha'Lev bee-NUT ha-LEV
Deep comprehension (literally understanding of the heart)
שִׂכְלוּת הַלֵּב
5. Sichlut Ha'Lev seech-LOOT ha-LEV
Deep perception (literally intelligence of the heart)
אֵימָה
6. Eimah ey-MUH
Awe, fear
יִרְאָה
7. Yirah year-UH
Reverence, respect
עֲנָוָה
8. Anavah ah-nuh-VUH
Humility, modesty
שִׂמְחָה
9. Simchah seem-CHAH
Joy, celebration
טָהֳרָה
10. Taharah tah-RAH
Purity, cleanliness
שִׁמּוּשׁ חֲכָמִים
11. Shimush Chachamim she-MOOSH cha-cha-MEEM
Ministering/being useful to the Sages
דִקְדּוּק חֲבֵרִים
12. Dikduk Chaverim deek-DOOK chav-air-EEM
Careful choice of friends; Critical give-and-take with colleagues
פִּלְפּוּל הַתַּלְמִידִים
13. Pilpul Ha'Talmidim PILL-pool huh tall-me-DEEM
Exacting debate with students
יִשּׁוּב בַּמִּקְרָא בַּמִּשְׁנָה
14. Yishuv Ba'Mikrah Ba'Mishnah yee-SHOOV bah-meek-RUH bah-meesh-NUH
Calm, clear thinking in Written and Oral Torah (literally seatedness in Scripture and Repetition)
מִעוּט סְחוֹרָה
15. Miut Skhorah mee-OOT s-chor-AH
Limited business
מִעוּט דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ
16. Miut Derech Eretz mee-OOT DARE-ech AIR-ets
Minimal secular engagement
מִעוּט תַּעֲנוּג
17. Miut Taanug mee-OOT tah-NOOG
Limited sexual activity
מִעוּט שֵׁינָה
18. Miut Shenah mee-OOT shea-NAH
Minimal sleep
מִעוּט שִׂיחָה
19. Miut Sichah me-OOT see-CHAH
Limited chatting
מִעוּט שְׂחוֹק
20. Miut Skhok mee-OOT s-chok
Minimal frivolity
אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם
21. Erech Apayim AIR-ech up-EYE-eem
Patience, slowness to anger
לֵב טוֹב
22. Lev Tov lev TOVE
Being positive (literally a good heart)
אֱמוּנַת חֲכָמִים
23. Emunat Chachamim emm-oo-NOT cha-cha-MEEM
Faith in the Sages
קַבָּלַת הַיִּסּוּרִין
24. Kabalat Ha'Yisurin kah-ball-AHT ha yees-oo-REEN
Acceptance of suffering
מַּכִּיר אֶת מְקוֹמוֹ
25. Makir Et Mkomo mah-KEER et mick-oh-MOE
Knowing one's place
שָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ
26. Sameach B'Chelko suh-MAY-ach b-chell-KOH
Being happy with one's lot
עוֹשֶׂה סְיָג לִדְבָרָיו
27. Oseh Syag Li'Dvarav oh-SEH see-ogg lid-var-AWE-v
Guarding one's speech (literally making a fence around one's words)
אֵינוֹ מַחֲזִיק טוֹבָה לְעַצְמוֹ
28. Eino Machazik Tovah L'Atzmo EY-no mah-chah-ZEEK TOVE-uh lots-MOE
Not taking credit (literally not seizing good for oneself)
אָהוּב
29. Ahuv ah-HOOVE
Being lovable
אוֹהֵב אֶת הַמָּקוֹם
30. Ohev Et Ha'Makom oh-HEV et ha muck-OME
Loving the Omnipresent God
אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת
31. Ohev Et Ha'Briyot oh-HEV et hah bree-OAT
Loving one's fellow creations
אוֹהֵב אֶת הַצְּדָקוֹת
32. Ohev Et Ha'Tzdakot oh-HEV et huts-dah-COAT
Loving right actions
אוֹהֵב אֶת הַמֵּישָׁרִים
33. Ohev Et Ha'Meisharim oh-HEV et ha may-shar-EEM
Loving honest, straightforward communication
אוֹהֵב אֶת הַתּוֹכָחוֹת
34. Ohev Et Ha'Tochachot oh-HEV et ha toe-chuh-CHOTE
Loving reproof and rebukes
מִתְרַחֵק מִן הַכָּבוֹד
35. Mitrachek Min Ha'Kavod meet-ruh-CHAKE mean ha kuh-VODE
Avoiding public recognition
לֹא מֵגִיס לִבּוֹ בְתַלְמוּדוֹ
36. Lo Megis Libo V'Talmudo low may-GEESE lee-boe vit-all-moo-DOH
Not being proud of one's learning
אֵינוֹ שָׂמֵחַ בְּהוֹרָאָה
37. Eino Sameach B'Horaah EY-no suh-MAY-ach b-hora-AH
Not deriving pleasure from rendering legal decisions
נוֹשֵׂא בְעֹל עִם חֲבֵרוֹ
38. Nosey V'Ol Im Chavero no-SAY v-OLE eem chav-air-OH
Bearing the burden with one's friend
מַכְרִיעוֹ לְכַף זְכוּת
39. Machrio L'Chaf Zchut mahch-REE-oh l-chaf z-CHOOT
Judging people favourably, assuming the best
מַעֲמִידוֹ עַל הָאֱמֶת וְהַשָּׁלוֹם
40. Maamido Al Ha'Emet V'Ha'Shalom mah-ah-me-DOE all ha em-ET v-ha-shuh-LOME
Setting others on the path of truth and peace
מִתְיַשֵּׁב לִבּוֹ בְתַלְמוּדוֹ
41. Mityashev Libo V'Talmudo meet-yuh-SHAVE lee-BO v-tall-mood-OH
Concentration on one's studies (literally to seat one's heart)
שׁוֹאֵל וּמֵשִׁיב
42. Shoel U'Meshiv show-ELL oo-may-SHEEV
Back-and-forth discussion (literally questioning and answering)
שׁוֹמֵעַ וּמוֹסִיף
43. Shomea U'Mosif show-MAY-ah oo-moe-SEEF
Continuous learning (literally listening and adding)
לּוֹמֵד עַל מְנָת לְלַמֵּד
44. Lomed Al Mnat L'Lamed low-MADE all m-not l-LOMM-aid
Studying to teach
לּוֹמֵד עַל מְנָת לַעֲשׂוֹת
45. Lomed Al Mnat La'asot low-MADE all m-not lah-us-OAT
Studying to practice
מַּחְכִּים אֶת רַבּוֹ
46. Machkim Et Rabo mach-KEEM et rub-OH
Making one's teacher wiser
מְכַוֵּן אֶת שְׁמוּעָתוֹ
47. Mchaven Et Shmuato m-chah-VANE et shmoo-uh-TOE
Intentionally engaging with what one hears
אוֹמֵר דָּבָר בְּשֵׁם אוֹמְרוֹ
48. Omer Davar B'Shem Omro OH-mare duh-VARR b-shem ome-ROW
Quoting one's sources (literally saying a thing in the name of the one who said it)