1 Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? Someone who learns from everyone,⁠a as it is said: “I have gained understanding from all who taught me” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? Someone who controls his [evil] inclination,⁠b as it is said: “Someone who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and someone who rules his spirit is better than someone who captures a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? Someone who is happy with his lot,⁠c as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2). “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is honored? Someone who honors his fellow human beings,⁠d as it is said: “For I honor those who honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30). 2 Ben Azzai said: Be as quick to perform a minor commandment as a major one, and run from transgression; for one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression; for the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression. 3 He used to say: do not despise anyone, and do not discriminate against anything, for everyone has their hour, and everything has its place. 4 Rabbi Levitas of Yavneh said: be extremely humble in spirit, for every person ends as food for worms.⁠e Rabbi Yohanan ben Berokah said: whoever profanes the name of heaven in secret will be punished openly. Whether it is unintentional or intentional, profaning the name is treated the same. 5 Rabbi Ishmael his son said: Someone who learns in order to teach is granted the opportunity to study and teach; but someone who learns in order to practice is granted the opportunity to learn, teach, [observe,] and practice. Rabbi Zadok said: [Do not separate yourself from the community.⁠f Do not act as an advocate while serving as a judge.] Do not make [the Torah] a crown to exalt yourself or a spade to dig with. So too Hillel used to say, “And whoever uses the crown for his own benefit will die.” Thus you have learned, anyone who derives worldly benefit from the words of the Torah forfeits his life.⁠g 6 Rabbi Yose said: whoever honors the Torah is himself honored by others, and whoever dishonors the Torah is himself dishonored by others. 7 Rabbi Ishmael his son said: someone who avoids judging frees himself from hostility, robbery, and false oaths; but someone who is presumptuous in giving a judicial decision is foolish, wicked, and arrogant. 8 He used to say: do not judge alone, for no one may judge alone except the One. And do not say “accept my view”, for they are free but not you. 9 Rabbi Jonathan said: whoever fulfills the Torah in poverty will eventually fulfill it in wealth; and whoever discards the Torah in wealth will eventually discard it in poverty.⁠h 10 Rabbi Meir said: Spend little time on business, and devote yourself to the Torah. Be humble before everyone.⁠i If you have neglected the Torah, many people will cause you to neglect it, but if you have labored at the study of Torah, there is a great reward to give you. 11 Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob said: someone who performs one commandment gains one advocate, and someone who commits one transgression gains one accuser. Repentance and good deeds are a shield against punishment. Rabbi Yochanan Hasandlar said: every assembly which is for the sake of heaven will in the end endure; and every assembly which is not for the sake of heaven will not endure in the end. 12 Rabbi Elazar ben Shammua said: let the honor of your student be as dear to you as your own, and the honor of your colleague as the reverence for your teacher, and the reverence for your teacher as the reverence of heaven. 13 Rabbi Judah said: be careful in study, for an error in study counts as deliberate sin. Rabbi Shimon said: There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of royalty, but the crown of a good name surpasses them all. 14 Rabbi Nehorai said: go as a [voluntary] exile to a place of Torah and do not say that it will follow you, for [it is] your fellow [students] who will make it stay with you, and “do not rely on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). 15 Rabbi Yannai said: we cannot [explain the reason] for either the security of the wicked or the suffering of the righteous. Rabbi Mathia ben Harash said: When you meet people, be the first to greet them; and be a tail to lions, and not a head to foxes. 16 Rabbi Jacob said: this world is like an entrance hall before the world to come; prepare yourself in the entrance hall, so that you may enter the banquet hall. 17 He used to say: one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is more precious than all the life of the world to come; and one hour of tranquility in the world to come is more precious than all the life of this world. 18 Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar said: Do not try to calm your friend while he is angry; nor comfort him while his dead still lies before him; nor question him while he is making his vow; nor try to see him when he is disgraced. 19 Samuel Hakatan said: “If your enemy falls, do not be delighted; if he trips, do not be glad in your heart, so that the Lord does not see it, become displeased, and turn His anger away from him” (Proverbs 24:17). 20 Elisha ben Abuyah said: What is someone who learns as a child like? Ink written on a new writing sheet. And what is someone who learns in old age like? Ink written on an erased writing sheet. Rabbi Yose ben Judah of Kfar Ha-babli said: What is someone who learns from the young like? Someone who eats unripe grapes, and drinks wine from his vat; and what is someone who learns from the old like? Someone who eats ripe grapes, and drinks old wine. Rabbi said: do not look at the container but at what is in it: there is a new container full of old wine, and an old [container] in which there is not even new [wine].⁠j 21 Rabbi Elazar Ha-kappar said: envy, lust, and [the desire for] honor drive a person out of the world.⁠k 22 He used to say: those who are born will die, and those who have died will be brought to life, and those brought to life will be judged; This is so that one may know, make known, and understand that He is God, He is the designer, He is the creator, He is the One who discerns, He is the judge, He is the witness, He is the complainant, and that He will summon people to judgment. Blessed be He, before Whom there is no injustice, forgetfulness, favoritism, or taking of bribes, for everything is His. And know that everything is according to the reckoning. And do not let your impulse assure you that the grave is a place of refuge for you; for you were formed against your will, you were born against your will, against your will you live, against your will you will die, and against your will you will give an account and reckoning before the King of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.