Ethics of the Fathers

1S YOULS Is YOULS, 15 PIOUS. (4-7 UME WHO says, VV Hat ls YOULS 1s TUNE alld Wilal is mine is mine,” is wicked. 15. There are four types of temperament: (1) One who is easily angered and easily | pacified — his loss is canceled by his gain. (2) One whois hard to anger and hard to pacify — his gain is canceled by his loss. (3) One who is hard to anger and easily pacified is pious. (4.) One who is easily angered and hard to pacify is wicked. 16. There are four types of student: (1) One who learns quickly and forgets quickly — his gain is canceled by his loss. (2) One who learns slowly and forgets slowly — his loss is canceled by his gain. (3) One who learns quickly and forgets slowly — his is a happy lot. (4.) One who learns slowly and forgets quickly — his is a sad lot. 17. There are four types of donor to charity: (1) One who wishes to give but does not want others to give, begrudges others. (2) One who wants others to give, but does not himself give, begrudges himself. (3) One who gives and wants others to give is pious. (4) One who does not himself give and does not want others to give is wicked. 18. There are four types among those who attend the House of Study: (1) One who goes but does not practice [what he learns] receives a reward for going. (2) One who practices but does not go receives a reward for practicing. (3) One who goes and also practices is pious. (4.) One who neither goes nor practices is wicked. 19. There are four types among those who sit before the sages: the sponge, the funnel, the strainer and the sieve. The sponge absorbs everything. The funnel takes in at one end and lets out at the other. The strainer lets out the wine and retains the sediment. The sieve allows the flour dust to pass through and retains the fine flour. 20. If love depends on a specific cause, when the cause ends, so does the love. If love does not depend on a specific cause, then it never ends. What is an example of love depending on a specific cause? The love of Amnon for Tamar. What is an example of love not dependent on a specific cause? The love of David and Jonathan. 21. Any dispute for the sake of heaven will have enduring value, but any dispute not for the sake of heaven will not have enduring value. What is an example | ofa dispute for the sake of heaven? The dispute between Hillel and Shammai. | What is an example of one not for the sake of heaven? The dispute of Korah | and all his company.