, I should be careful to do naught to injure
his business. Shall I imagine that I am nearer to God because my
profession advances the cause of learning and his does not? No. Whether
we accomplish much good or little good, the Almighty will reward us in
accordance with our righteous intentions."

Abaygeh offered the following as his best advice:--

"... Let him be also affable and disposed to foster kindly feelings
between all people; by so doing he will gain for himself the love both
of the Creator and His creatures."

Rabba always said that the possession of wisdom and a knowledge of the
law necessarily led to penitence and good deeds. "For," said he, "it
would be useless to acquire great learning and the mastery of biblical
and traditional law and act irreverently toward one's parents, or toward
those superior on account of age or more extensive learning."

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding
have all those who do God's commands."

Rabba said, "Holy Writ does not tell us that to study God's commands
shows a good understanding, but to do them. We must learn, however,
before we can be able to perform; and he who acts contrary through life
to the teachings of the Most High had better never have been born."

"The wise man is in his smallest actions great: the fool is in his
greatest actions small."

A pupil once inquired of his teacher, "What is real wisdom?" The teacher
replied, "To judge liberally, to think purely, and to love thy
neighbor." Another teacher answered, "The greatest wisdom is to know
thyself."

"Beware of conceit and pride of learning; learn thy tongue to utter, 'I
do not know.'"

If a man devotes himself to study, and becomes learned, to the delight
and gratification of his teachers, and yet is modest in conversation
with less intelligent people, honest in his dealings, truthful in his
daily walks, the people say, "Happy is the father who allowed him to
study God's law; happy the teachers who instructed him in the ways of
truth; how beautiful are his ways; how meritorious his deeds! Of such an
one the Bible says, 'He said to me, Thou art my servant; oh, Israel,
through thee am I glorified.'"

But when a man devotes himself to study, and becomes learned, yet is
disdainful with those less educated than himself, and is not particular
in his dealings with his fellows, then the people say of him, "Woe to
the father who allowed him to study God's law; woe to those