Ethical Living in Pursuit of Wisdom: From Judaism – The Talmud, Part 2 of 2

“Rabbi Akiva says: Laughter and light-headedness bring a man to lewdness. Tradition is a fence around the Law. […] vows are a fence around purity; a fence around wisdom is silence. He would say: Blessed is man because he was born in the image of the Lord; blessed, indeed, is man because he was born in the Image, as is said: (Genesis 9:6) For in the image of God, made He man. […]”

“All is foreseen but freedom of choice is granted, and the world is judged with charity and all is measured by the number of good deeds. He would say: All is given against a pledge and a net is spread over all living, and the shop is open, and the storekeeper allows credit, and the ledger is open, and the hand inscribes, and whosoever wants credit shall come and borrow. But the collectors make their rounds regularly each day and exact payment from each man whether he is aware of it or not, and they have the things on which to rely, and the judgment is a true judgment, and everything is ready for the banquet.”

“Ben Zoma says: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as was said: (Psalms 119:99) I am learned beyond any of my teachers. Who is mighty? He who can master his passions, as was said: (Proverbs 16:32) He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Who is rich? He that is happy with his portion, as was said: (Psalms 128:2) For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Happy in this world and happy in the world to come. Who is honored? He that honors his fellowman, as was said: (I Samuel 2:30) For them that honor Me, I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.”

“Ben Azzai says: Run to fulfill a minor precept as if it were a major precept, and run away from transgression, for a precept draws another precept, and a transgression draws another transgression. The reward of a precept is another precept, and the reward of a transgression is another transgression. He used to say: Despise no one and discriminate not against a thing; for there is not a man but has his hour, and there is not a thing but has its place.”