'RDostai bar R' Yannai says in the name of Rabbi Meir: Anyone who forgets one item of his studies, Scripture considers it as if he bears guilt for his soul, as it is stated: Only beware for yourself and greatly beware for your soul, lest you forget the things that your eyes have beheld. I might think even if his studies overwhelmed him; Scripture [therefore] states (ibid.): and lest you remove them from your heart all the days of your life. Thus he does not bear guilt for his soul unless he sits and removes them from his heart.

Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa says: Anyone whose fear of sin precedes his wisdom, his wisdom will endure. And anyone whose wisdom precedes his fear of sin, his wisdom will not endure.  He used to say: Anyone whose actions exceed his wis-dom, his wisdom will endure. And anyone whose wisdom exceeds his actions, his wisdom will not endure.

He used to say: Anyone with whom the spirit of his fellows is pleased, the spirit of the Omnipresent is pleased with him. And anyone with whom the spirit of his fellows is not pleased, the spirit of the Omnipresent is not pleased with him.  R' Dosa ben Harkinas says: Morning sleep, midday wine, children's chatter, and sitting at gatherings of the ignorant remove a person from the world.

'RElazar the Modi'ite says: One who desecrates consecrated objects, one who disgraces the festivals, one who shames his friend in public, one who nullifies the covenant of our forefather Abraham —- peace upon him, and one who reveals explana-tions of the Torah contrary to halachah —- even though he may possess Torah and good deeds, he has no share in the World to Come.

'RYishmael says: Be swift for a superior, and reserved toward the young, and be cheerful toward everyone.

'RAkiva says: Jest and levity accustom [man] to immorality. The Oral Tradition [is] a fence for the Torah. Tithes [are] a fence for wealth. Vows [are] a fence for abstinence. A fence for wisdom [is] silence.

He used to say: Beloved is man, for he was created in the image [of God]. A greater love [is that] it was made known to him that he was created in the image [of God], as it is stated: For in the image of God He made man.  Beloved is Israel, for they are called “children” of the Omnipresent. A greater love [is that] it was made known to them that they are called “chil-dren” of the Omnipresent, as it is stated: You are children to Hashem, your God.  Beloved is Israel, for a desirable uten-sil was given to them. A greater love [is that] it was made known to them that a desirable utensil —- with which the world was created —- was given to them, as it is stated: For I have given you a good teaching, do not forsake My Torah.

Everything is known, permission is granted, and the world is judged with goodness. Yet everything [is] in accordance with the abundance of deeds.

He used to say: Everything is given with a guarantor, and a net is spread over all the living.  The shop is open; the Mer-chant extends credit; the ledger is open and the Hand writes; whoever wishes to borrow may come and borrow; the collectors make their rounds constantly, every day, and collect payment from the person, whether he realizes it or not; they have what to rely upon; the judgment is a truthful judgment; and everyone is readied for the banquet.

Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah says: If there is no Torah, there is no proper conduct. If there is no proper conduct, there is no Torah.  If there is no wisdom, there is no fear [of God]. If there is no fear [of God], there is no wisdom.  If there is no un-derstanding, there is no knowledge. If there is no knowledge, there is no understanding.  If there is no flour, there is no Torah. If there is no Torah, there is no flour.  He used to say: Anyone whose wisdom exceeds his actions, to what is he lik-ened? To a tree whose branches are numerous but whose roots are few, then the wind comes and uproots it and turns it up-side down, as it is stated: He will be like a lone tree in the desert, and will not see when goodness comes; it dwells in parched lands in the wilderness, in a salty, uninhabited land. But one whose actions exceed his wisdom, to what is he likened? To a tree whose branches are few but whose roots are numerous; even if all the winds in the world were to come and blow against it, they could not budge it from its place, as it is stated: He will be like a tree planted near water, which spreads out its roots along a brook and does not see when heat comes, whose foliage is ever fresh; it will not worry in a year of drought and will not stop producing fruit.

R' Eliezer ben Chisma says: [The laws of] bird-offerings and beginnings of menstrual cycles —- these are essential laws. As-tronomy and numerology [are like] dessert for wisdom.

Ben Zoma says: Who is wise? He who learns from every person, as it is said: From all my teachers I grew wise, for Your testi-monies are my conversation. Who is strong? He who subdues his personal inclination, as it is said: He who is slow to anger is better than a strong man, and a master of his passions [is better] than a conqueror of a city. Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot, as it is said: When you eat the labor of your hands, you are praiseworthy and all is well with you. You are praiseworthy —- in this world; and all is well with you —- in the World to Come. Who is honored? He who honors others, as it is said: For those who honor Me I will honor and those who scorn Me shall be degraded.