which cannot be understood at once, in the hope that it will be
understood in the end (13); neither say, 'When I have leisure I will
study'; perchance thou wilt have no leisure." 6. He used to say, "An
empty-headed man cannot be a sin-fearing man, nor can an ignorant
person (14) be pious, nor can a shamefaced man (15) learn, nor a
passionate man (16) teach, nor can one who is engaged overmuch in
business grow wise (17). In a place where there are no men, strive to
be a man" (18). 7. Moreover, he once saw a skull floating on the
surface of the water. He said to it, "Because thou didst drown
(others) they have drowned thee, and at the last they that drowned
thee shall themselves be drowned" (19). 8. He used to say, "The more
flesh, the more works; the more property, the more anxiety; the more
women, the more witchcraft; the more maid-servants, the more lewdness;
the more men-servants, the more robbery; the more _Torah_, the more
life (20); the more schooling, the more wisdom; the more counsel, the
more understanding; the more charity, the more peace. He who has
acquired a good name has acquired it for himself; he who has acquired
for himself words of _Torah_ has acquired for himself life in the
world to come" (21).

(10) The chain of traditional sayings is continued here from
chapter I, 14, with other maxims of Hillel. See
_Introduction_, p. 17.

(11) _I.e._, share its weal and woe. Cf. _Taanit_, 11a, "He
who does not join the community in times of danger and trouble
will never enjoy the divine blessing."

(12) One should constantly be on guard against oneself. The
_Talmud_ (_Berachot_, 29a) illustrates this saying by