He also saw a skull floating on the water. He said to it: “Because you caused [the heads of] others to float, [others] caused [your head] to float; and eventually those who caused you to float will be caused to float themselves.”

He used to say: The more flesh, the more worms; the more possessions, the more worry; the more wives, the more witchcraft; the more maidservants, the more lewdness; the more menservants, the more thievery. [However,] the more Torah, the more life; the more students, the more wisdom; the more counsel, the more understanding; the more charity, the more peace. One who has gained a good reputation has gained it for his own benefit. One who has gained himself Torah knowledge has gained himself the life of the World to Come.