At the time of [Akavya's] death he said to his son: “My son, retract from the four matters that I used to say.” He said to [Akavya his father]: “And why did you not retract yourself?” [Akavya] said to [his son]: “I heard [these rulings] pronounced by the ma-jority and they [the Sages] heard [them] pronounced by the majority. [Thus] I adhered to my received tradition and they ad-hered to their received tradition. But you heard [one set of rulings] pronounced by a [single] individual, [myself,] and [a con-flicting set of rulings] pronounced by the majority. [Therefore,] it is preferable [for you] to abandon the words of the indi-vi-dual and to grasp onto the words of the majority.” He said to [Akavya]: “Father, intercede with your colleagues about me.” [Akavya] answered him: “I will not intercede.” He said to [Akavya]: “Perhaps you have found some cause in me?” [Akavya] said to him: “No; [it is] your deeds [that] will bring you close [to the Sages] or your deeds [that] will distance you.”